The ever-flowing healthcare bailouts edition | The Healthy Muse

This week’s top healthcare news.

• As of this writing: 784,201 infected and 41,837 deaths in the U.S. (Live Tracker)
• We’re re-opening the economy — slowly — and states will get to choose how and when that’s done. They’ll use the White House’s 3-phase approach as a guide.
• Antibody and other lab testing availability will be key. If you read anything healthcare related this week, read this piece from Stat. They’ve been at the forefront of reporting re: everything coronavirus. Second, read this piece from the WSJ.
• More bailout $$$ is on the way for small businesses and hospitals.
• The CDC is releasing a clinical reporting tool in May.
• Gilead’s antiviral drug treatment Remdesivir is showing cautiously optimistic results.
• Trump halted funding for the World Health Organization pending investigation.
• New projected COVID-19 peaks by state.
• Contamination at the main CDC lab in Atlanta delayed tests for weeks, according to the NY Times.

Non-COVID Things to know.

• CMS proposed boosting inpatient rehabilitation payments by 2.9% in 2021.
• Health insurers are on the hook for big Obamacare rebates — in the tune of $2.7 billion.

Phase II of the Coronavirus Crisis begins.

Economies are looking to open back up, but around 60% of Americans are wondering whether we’re opening up too soon.

At any rate, the U.S. will need to rely on more testing until a vaccine gets here.

• Prior to any sort of re-opening, New York is planning to ‘aggressively’ roll out an antibody test, which will let people know whether they have immunity / the ability to fight off COVID-19.

Stimulus, Part IV; Scene 1

More bailout cash is coming for small businesses — $450 billion in total, $300 billion of which is slated for the paycheck protection program.

Notably for healthcare, another $75 billion in bailout $$$ is coming to hospitals on top of the $100 billion fund already approved in the CARES Act.

• The news comes days after the American Hospital Association asked Congress — specifically the House — for more hospital funding.

About that CARES Act money… CMS is distributing another round of $30 billion to hospitals.

• $20 billion will be based on each hospitals’ proportion of total revenue received from private insurers and Medicaid.
• Then, the remaining $10 billion will be dispersed based on coronavirus need — i.e., addressing “hot spots,” or hospitals with large numbers of coronavirus patients.

In an interesting twist, private equity owned physician practices were shut out of the CARES Act bailout funds.

• Remember: The first round of funding was distributed based on hospitals’ historical shares of Medicare revenue, which drew some backlash.

Other ‘Rona Reads.

• We might have to sacrifice some temporary privacy and personal freedom in order to track infections. Here’s one way to balance the two.
• CMS just provided guidance for resuming elective procedures. It’ll depend on the availability of personal protective equipment and declines in COVID cases.
• Antibody treatments may be the best hope against the virus until a vaccine.
• Americans rally to protest social distancing

Biz Hits

• Telehealth startups are having no trouble raising funds during the pandemic.
• Big Tech: Facebook launching its symptom tracker map. Microsoft launching Plasmabot. And everything else the nation’s largest companies are contributing to the coronavirus crisis.
• UnitedHealthcare is considering jumping back into the ACA exchanges.

Other Hits

• Prescriptions for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications have risen 21% post-COVID.
• Where have all the other hospital patients gone? Heart attacks, appendicitis, and strokes have vanished. (WaPo)
• How much more does private insurance pay over Medicare? TL;DR — about 200%. (KFF)
• A 2020 business outlook for physical therapy.

Thought-Provoking Editorials

• Withholding funding from the WHO is dangerous and must be reversed. (Nature)
• Sending hospitals into bankruptcy. (WSJ)
• The COVID-19 crisis is giving states that haven’t expanded Medicaid a chance to reconsider (TCF)

About the Healthy Muse.

The Healthy Muse was created to educate people on the healthcare system. It’s a once weekly e-mail updating you on all the major election news, broader trends, big stories, and policy updates. Learn more about our vision here.

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Originally published at https://thehealthymuse.com.