About Covid-19
COVID-19 Vaccination Demographics in the United States, National: CDC’s comprehensive, current database of vaccination demographics.
Prevalence and Durability of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Unvaccinated US Adults by History of COVID-19: “In this cross-sectional study of unvaccinated US adults, antibodies were detected in 99% of individuals who reported a positive COVID-19 test result, in 55% who believed they had COVID-19 but were never tested, and in 11% who believed they had never had COVID-19 infection. Anti-RBD levels were observed after a positive COVID-19 test result up to 20 months, extending previous 6-month durability data.”
Vaccine refusal tied to 4,934 healthcare job cuts in January: U.S.-based companies announced 19,064 job cuts in January, and 5,757 workers lost their jobs because they refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an executive outplacement and coaching firm.
Of the job cuts for vaccine refusal in January, 4,934 were from healthcare providers, according to the report. The healthcare industry had the most job cuts in January, with 5,053.”
San Francisco allowing extra booster shot for Johnson & Johnson recipients: “In a break with federal guidance, San Francisco health officials are allowing adult residents who received the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to get a second booster shot.”
About health insurance
Kaiser Permanente's special California Medicaid contract raises concerns: “California awarded Kaiser Permanente an exclusive Medicaid contract that would allow it to hand-pick enrollees as it grows in the state, according to Kaiser Health News.
However, the contract, which was negotiated via a secret meeting between the payer and the state, raises concerns among Kaiser Permanente's competitors that the patients left for them will be riskier and potentially more costly…
In a statement, Kaiser Permanente said the plan was struck to uniquely help the payer — which also operates as a provider — to grow beyond its capacity.”
About hospitals and healthcare systems
Hospital CEOs' No. 1 concern is staffing for 1st time in 17 years: “Hospital CEOs ranked personnel shortages as their No. 1 concern in 2021. Financial challenges, which consistently held the top spot since 2004, were listed the second-most pressing concern in the American College of Healthcare Executives' annual survey.”
This is why hospitals need more time to pay off Medicare loans: “The current payback terms, which Congress eased in 2020, start at 25% one year after the initial payment for 11 months. After that, the payback increases to 50% for six months. If everything is not paid off in these 29 months, the agency will set an interest rate of 4%.
In a letter sent to President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders on Jan. 19, hospitals and health care systems have made a number of requests, including for loan repayment deferrals. The letter acknowledges that many providers have already paid the money in full.” The letter is short and worth reading.
About pharma
Estimation of Potential Savings Associated With Switching Medication Formulation: “In this study, we found that switching medication formulations can reduce expenditure on the drugs we analyzed by more than 40%.”
Mallinckrodt wins approval of restructuring plan, opioid deal: “Pharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt PLC on Thursday won court approval of its reorganization plan, which includes a $1.7 billion settlement of opioid-related litigation, bringing its 16-month bankruptcy close to an end.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey in Wilmington, Delaware signed off on the plan in a 103-page written decision. In addition to settling thousands of lawsuits accusing it of deceptively marketing its opioids, the plan allows Mallinckrodt to reduce $5.3 billion in debt by $1.3 billion and hands control of the reorganized company to creditors.”
About healthcare personnel
Biden administration announces $19 million for new residency positions: “The Biden administration on Thursday made $19 million in grants available to train primary care residents in rural and under-served communities, part of an effort to address physician shortages. The funding will support an additional 120 residency slots at community-based ambulatory patient care centers. "This funding provides our primary care workforce with opportunities to train in areas where they can make a profound impact, and is one of the many steps we're taking to address long-standing health disparities," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said.”
About diagnostics
Labcorp launches online platform for ordering at-home tests, scheduling in-person appointments: “With Labcorp OnDemand, consumers can choose from a wide range of tests and multitest packages, all available without a physician’s referral. Depending on the type, the diagnostics can either be ordered for at-home sample collection or the buyer will be prompted to schedule an appointment at one of Labcorp’s patient service centers, 2,000 of which are located in Walgreens stores and standalone labs across the U.S.
Regardless of how the sample is collected, after it’s been processed by Labcorp, the results are automatically available on the OnDemand platform’s online portal. The resulting report not only explains each test’s results and highlights potential areas of concern but can also be shared with healthcare providers.”
This process is a marked departure from the requirement for a physician’s order for most tests. The question of insurance payment for such self-ordered tests was not discussed in the article.