About Covid-19
Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Frontline Workers Before and During B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant Predominance — Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020–August 2021: From the CDC: “During December 14, 2020–April 10, 2021, data from the HEROES-RECOVER Cohorts,* a network of prospective cohorts among frontline workers, showed that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were approximately 90% effective in preventing symptomatic and asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in real-world conditions (1,2). This report updates vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates including all COVID-19 vaccines available through August 14, 2021, and examines whether VE differs for adults with increasing time since completion of all recommended vaccine doses…
The VE point estimates declined from 91% before predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant to 66% since the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant became predominant at the HEROES-RECOVER cohort study sites; however, this trend should be interpreted with caution because VE might also be declining as time since vaccination increases and because of poor precision in estimates due to limited number of weeks of observation and few infections among participants. As with all observational VE studies, unmeasured and residual confounding might be present.”
FDA cautions against off-label use of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in younger children: The FDA joins the American Academy of Pediatrics in this recommendation. However, both organizations “strongly recommend that all eligible adolescents, ages 12 to 17, be vaccinated as soon as possible, especially as the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant continues to circulate nationwide.”
3 out of 4 pregnant people not yet vaccinated against COVID-19, CDC says: “Among pregnant Black people, nearly nine out of 10 are unvaccinated, according to the CDC.
Earlier this month, the CDC strengthened its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, citing new evidence of safety with the vaccines.”
Seoul urges Biden to break vaccine IP deadlock: “Seoul is calling on the Biden administration to help Korean companies access intellectual property for producing Covid-19 jabs, as the highly infectious Delta variant prompts a reassessment of global vaccine requirements. South Korea’s failed attempts to gain access to US companies’ mRNA vaccine technology strikes at the heart of the rising divergence between the interests of pharmaceutical companies and the views of some international medical experts over jab supply shortages.”
Vax facts: San Diego researchers debunk 7 common COVID-19 vaccine myths: Good, clear explanations. Reprints would be good for physicians’ waiting rooms.
Booster dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine yields stronger immune response than one shot, company says: “A second shot of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine generates a protective response beyond the response from a single dose, the company said in a news release Wednesday.”
The preliminary results come from “two studies that have not gone through scientific peer review, submitted to the preprint site Medrxiv.”
CMS Ups Medicare Payment for At-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations, Again: “Medicare will pay an additional reimbursement of about $35 per dose administered for up to a maximum of five vaccine administration services per home unit or communal living space, as long as it is in a single group living location, CMS posted on its website earlier today.” See, also: Medicare Billing for COVID-19 Vaccine Shot Administration
Telling conservatives it’s a shot to ‘restore our freedoms’: How online ads are promoting coronavirus vaccination: A good example of how targeting can be effective social marketing.
About hospitals and health systems
Carbon Health scoops up 2 major clinic chains to expand primary care footprint: “Carbon Health, a primary care provider combining brick-and-mortar clinics with virtual services, bought two separate clinic chains to expand its national primary care footprint.
The company bought Southern Arizona Urgent Care’s nine clinics in Tucson, Arizona, and Med7 Urgent Care’s four clinics in Sacramento, California, bringing its total to 83 clinics across 12 states.
This acquisition underscores the company's goal of becoming the largest national healthcare provider, fueled by its recent $350 million funding news.”
August 2021 National Hospital Flash Report: From KaufmanHall: “steep increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spurred by rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant drove setbacks for u .s . hospitals and health systems in July .
Margins and volumes both were down across key metrics compared to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019 . Revenues rose above 2019 levels, but those gains were offset by escalating expenses. Meanwhile, the data suggest that some healthcare consumers once again are postponing elective procedures and other outpatient care due to concerns of possible exposure to the virus.”
More details in the report.
Geisinger's operating income grows fivefold through first half of year: “The health system, which includes nine hospital campuses, saw its operating income hit $92.9 million in the first six months of 2021. In the same period last year, Geisinger's operating income was $17.4 million.
In the six months ending June 30, Geisinger posted revenue of $3.2 billion, up from $3.1 billion recorded in the same period last year. Expenses for the health system remained relatively flat year over year, growing just 0.1 percent to $3.1 billion.
After factoring in investment gains, Geisinger ended the first six months of this year with a net income of $422.9 million. In the same period last year, Geisiger recorded a net loss of $180.7 million.”
Trends in Hospital Lawsuits Filed Against Patients for Unpaid Bills Following Published Research About This Activity: “In this cross-sectional analysis of 50 387 lawsuits filed by 67 Virginia hospitals, Virginia hospitals filed 59% fewer lawsuits in the year after a research article and subsequent media coverage exposed the practice compared with the year before publication. Overall, 11 hospitals banned the practice altogether.
These findings suggest that research and public health initiatives rooted in media exposure can increase public accountability for hospital billing practices and result in meaningful changes that benefit patients.”
About health insurance
AHIP: Adding dental, vision and hearing benefits could boost Medicare Advantage costs without benchmark changes: “Adding dental, vision and hearing benefits to traditional Medicare without adjusting Medicare Advantage payments could increase premiums for plans and lower rebates by up to 73%, according to a new insurer industry-funded report.
The analysis released Tuesday by top insurance lobbying group AHIP comes as Congress is considering adding the benefits as part of a $3.5 trillion infrastructure package. Payments to MA plans have also come under increased scrutiny as spending has outpaced traditional Medicare.
AHIP strongly urged the MA benchmark, which determines the payments for plans, to be adjusted if the new benefits are added.”