About the public’s health
Rich Countries Reserve Billions Of Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Even Before There Is One: “Currently there are nearly 200 Covid-19 candidates that are moving forward through the development and clinical trials processes, and over ten candidates are already in Phase-3 large-scale trials, the analysis found. The confirmed purchases from countries cover nearly four billion doses of vaccines, with another five billion doses under negotiation.
There will not be enough vaccine to cover the world’s population until 2024, according to current models taking into account the manufacturing capacity.”
The US just reported more than 100,000 new Covid-19 infections, the most cases in a single day since pandemic's start: The headline speaks for itself.
More than a million Americans live without indoor plumbing — and most of them live in big cities: “An estimated 471,000 households or 1.1 million individuals lack connection to piped water, according to a recent study.
Researchers also revealed racial disparities in access to water in urban areas across the United States.”
Cigna says health utilization continued to rebound in Q3: “Cigna, which posted a $1.39 billion profit in the third quarter, said that healthcare use remains slightly below average when not taking into account costs for COVID-19. The insurer's performance in the quarter was bolstered by its newly rebranded Evernorth subsidiary.
Cigna executives said that utilization was 95% below [I think they meant 95% of normal levels]normal levels without factoring COVID-19 costs.”
About pharma
Merck to Acquire VelosBio: “Merck… and VelosBio Inc. today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire all outstanding shares of VelosBio for $2.75 billion in cash, subject to certain customary adjustments. VelosBio is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing first-in-class cancer therapies targeting receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1).”
About healthcare markets
Health care still loves a divided Congress: “Health care stocks skyrocketed after Tuesday's election results indicated Republicans likely will maintain control of the Senate, all but assuring continued gridlock in both chambers of Congress…
The winners: Health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and medical device firms scored the biggest stock gains.”
About healthcare IT
The 146 telehealth services Medicare is covering during the pandemic: “CMS since March has expanded the number of services Medicare will cover when provided via telehealth to help support access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
About healthcare professionals
Assessment of Changes in Rural and Urban Primary Care Workforce in the United States From 2009 to 2017: “In this study, the density of primary care clinicians increased overall, yet rural-urban disparities in the primary care workforce are increasing in the US.”
About health insurance
UnitedHealth ordered to reprocess 67,000 mental health claims:”UnitedHealth Group must redo 67,000 medical claims for behavioral healthcare that it previously denied, a federal judge ordered Nov. 4.
The order comes after a March 2019 ruling from Judge Joseph Spero of the U.S. District Court of Northern California. He ruled that a UnitedHealth unit instituted guidelines that denied care to patients needing mental health treatment to cut costs.”