COVID-19 Intel Center
As our healthcare industry works together to make near- and long-term decisions about COVID-19, our public health, vaccine, and policy experts are here to help decipher the facts and navigate downstream implications for the healthcare system.
Featured Content
Hospital Discharges to Home Health Rebounding, But SNF Volumes Lag
New Avalere Health analysis of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims data reveals large decreases in skilled nursing facility (SNF) and home health care use following the widespread decline in inpatient hospitalizations amid the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Avalere’s analysis further suggests that as inpatient procedures resume in some areas, the volume of inpatient hospital discharges to home health is starting to rebound, whereas the volume of discharges to SNF remains below 2019 levels.
COVID-19 Provider Relief Funding and Future Allocation Considerations
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act appropriated $100 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund—known as the Provider Relief Fund (PRF)—and subsequent legislation appropriated an additional $75 billion through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
Anticipated Impact of COVID-19 Treatments on State Medicaid Budgets
Compared to other drivers of state budget pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic—including higher Medicaid program enrollment due to increased unemployment and lower state tax revenues as a result of economic shutdowns—the relative financial impact of COVID-19 therapeutics on state Medicaid budgets will likely be minimal.
Using Diagnostics to Mitigate the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Mitigating the public health emergency (PHE) caused by SARS-CoV-2 requires a multifaceted approach.
Podcast: Community Use of Face Masks and COVID-19: Evidence from a Natural Experiment of State Mandates in the US
Tune into another episode of Avalere’s Journal Club Review podcast series on Avalere Health Essential Voice. In this segment, our health policy experts discuss a recent study on the effectiveness of statewide mask mandates in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and the implications of its findings on future policy interventions.
COVID-19 Projected to Worsen Racial Disparities in Health Coverage
Avalere analysis finds that at least 5 million Black and Hispanic people may lose their health insurance as a result of the pandemic.
Who Will Approve a COVID Vaccine in the US?
As life sciences companies sprint toward COVID-19 vaccines and therapies, the discussion below considers who has the authority to make the call on their availability at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
COVID-19 Guide for Patients and Providers
As our healthcare industry rapidly evolves to address the COVID-19 pandemic, keep track of new resources and policies affecting patients and providers with the COVID-19 guide below.
Bringing COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics to Market
On July 22, Avalere experts discussed the marketplace for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics in the “Cutting Through the Noise: Market Evolution and Pathways to Access for COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics” webinar. They examined FDA regulatory considerations, coverage and access challenges, and key pricing and distribution scenarios for optimal US market access.
8 Return-to-Work Considerations for Employers Amid COVID-19
As businesses across the country begin to reopen, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic will continually require employers to be resilient, flexible, innovative, and forward looking when it comes to returning employees safely to work sites. Among the myriad of concerns and considerations, organizational leadership will need tools that assist decision making and ensure compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.
Access to Medicare Part B Drugs Remains Challenging During COVID-19
Avalere continues to find a significant drop in utilization of key physician-administered therapies in 2020 relative to 2019.
Podcast: E10, Part 3 – Get the Facts on COVID-19: Impacts on Provider Performance-Based Payment Incentives
Tune into part 3 of our tenth episode of Avalere Health Essential Voice podcast series. In this segment, Avalere experts from the Center for Healthcare Transformation will discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on provider performance-based incentive programs.
Webinar: Cutting Through the Noise: Market Evolution and Pathways to Access for COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics
Avalere experts discussed the marketplace for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, including key decision points for regulatory pathways, pricing, and distribution scenarios for optimal US and EX-US market access.
Podcast: E10, Part 2 – Get the Facts on COVID-19: Healthcare Provider Exemptions and Waivers
Tune into part 2 of our tenth episode of Avalere Health Essential Voice podcast series. In this segment, Avalere experts from the Center for Healthcare Transformation will discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare provider performance specific to exemptions and waivers.
The Impact of Telehealth on the Future Care-Delivery Landscape
On June 11, Avalere experts explored the future of telehealth and how organizations can help shape and take advantage of its increased utilization.
Optimizing Clinical Registries During the COVID-19 Era
Registries have played an important role in furthering our understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and have specifically proven valuable in the identification and management of pandemic diseases.
How COVID-19 Could Reduce MA Risk Scores and Payments in 2021
Deferral of care during the COVID-19 pandemic is resulting in fewer claims and diagnoses among Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees, which could lead to a 3%–7% reduction in 2021 risk scores and lower plan payments in 2021.
Podcast: E10, Part 1 – Get the Facts on COVID-19: Impacts on Healthcare Provider Performance
Tune into the tenth episode of our series of podcasts that focuses on COVID-19, which will discuss impacts on provider performance in 3 critical segments. In episode 10 Part I, Avalere experts from the Center for Healthcare Transformation will discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on measures, specifically related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obstetrics and gynecology, and primary care disease management.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Projected to Cost up to $17B in US in 2020
Avalere analysis of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) hospital stay claims with associated COVID-19 diagnoses finds that total US healthcare system costs for hospitalizations due to COVID-19 could range from $9.6B to $16.9B in 2020.
FDA Approach to Oversight of COVID-19 Therapeutics Has Evolved
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world, FDA has been balancing taking action to accelerate development of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines, while concurrently maintaining day to day activities to ensure proper oversight of current and future products on the market for all other unmet medical needs.