About Covid-19
CDC expects new Covid vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax to be available in mid-September
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax to be available to the public in mid-September, an agency official said.
That amounts to the most specific timeline to date for the new shots, which are designed to target omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.
Those vaccines still need approvals from the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC, which will form eligibility guidelines. “
Pandemic ushered 'unprecedented' declines in hospital patient experience scores, study finds “The analysis of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) responses found a steady decrease in summary HCAHPS scores across nearly 3,400 participating hospitals.
Compared to expected trends based on survey data from 2018 and 2019, U.S. hospitals logged a 1.2 percentage point decline in the second quarter of 2020, the start of the pandemic, that deteriorated to a 3.6 percentage point reduction by the end of 2021, per the study.”
Clinical Antiviral Efficacy of Remdesivir in Coronavirus Disease 2019 “Under the linear model, compared with the contemporaneous control arm (no study drug), remdesivir accelerated mean estimated viral clearance by 42% (95% credible interval, 18%–73%).”
About health insurance/insurers
HHS loses 4th No Surprises Act lawsuit “A federal judge for the fourth time sided with the Texas Medical Association in legal challenges over the No Surprises Act.
The Texas Medical Association filed a lawsuit in November arguing that portions of the No Surprise Act artificially deflate the qualifying payment amount. The group alleged the provisions of the rule ‘skew negotiations in favor of health insurers so strongly that health insurers will force physicians out of insurance networks and physicians will face significant practice viability challenges, struggling to keep their doors open in the wake of the pandemic.’”
Trends in Cumulative Disenrollment in the Medicare Advantage Program, 2011-2020 “After 1 year, 13.2% of nondually enrolled and 15.9% of dually enrolled beneficiaries had left their contract; after 3 years, 35.0% and 40.3%, respectively, had left their contract; and after 5 years, 48.3% and 53.4%, respectively, had left their contract. In analyses of disenrollment to TM [Traditional Medicare] over time, after 1 year, 2.3% of nondually enrolled and 5.8% of dually enrolled beneficiaries had switched to TM, and after 5 years, 8.9% and 13.6%, respectively, had switched to TM.”
Comment: The message must be interpreted carefully. The media may twist the findings and say there is a high rate of disenrollement from MA plans. Actually, most Medicare eligibles are switching amomhg MA advantage plans at stated not unlike people change their commercial plans.
About hospitals and healthcare systems
National Hospital Flash Report: August 2023 “Key Takeaways
Hospital performance declined on a month-over-month basis in July.
All volume indicators registered declines this month. However, when compared to 2022, there is some slight improvement in operating margins.
Outpatient volumes decreased slightly more than inpatient.
Some of this decline may be attributed to less patients seeking elective procedures in summer.
Expenses declined, but not enough to offset revenue losses.
Labor continues to be the biggest share of hospital expenses, and expenses will likely continue to fluctuate due to inflation.
Bad debt and charity care rose month-over-month.
Medicaid eligibility redetermination continues to affect hospitals and patients, with more than 30 states disenrolling people in June and July.”
Trilliant Health Announces Open Access to Its National Provider Directory “Trilliant Health, the healthcare industry’s leading analytics and market research firm, today announced that it will open access to its dynamic, national provider directory, making information about America's 2.7 million healthcare facilities, physicians and allied health professionals publicly available for the first time.”
About the public’s health
Salt-free diet ‘can reduce risk of heart problems by almost 20% “Researchers found those who never add salt to meals were 18% less likely to develop atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition, compared with those who always do.”
About healthcare personnel
Overworked and Undervalued: Unmasking Primary Care Physicians’ Dissatisfaction in 10 High-Income Countries An interesting international comparison.