The Veterans Health Administration’s Role During the COVID-19 Response August 6, 2020 Issue Brief A new issue brief examines the role of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during the coronavirus pandemic, and public health emergencies more broadly. The analysis finds that the VHA has provided assistance to 46 states and D.C., including treating over 270 non-veteran patients with coronavirus.
How Could the Price of Remdesivir Impact Medicare Spending for COVID-19 Patients? July 14, 2020 Issue Brief This brief discusses how drugs provided in inpatient hospital settings are covered and reimbursed for beneficiaries in traditional Medicare under current law. This is relevant for Medicare spending on COVID-19 patients who receive Gilead’s new antiviral drug remdesivir. We discuss the implications for hospitals and the Medicare program of spending on remdesivir.
Comparing Private Payer and Medicare Payment Rates for Select Inpatient Hospital Services July 7, 2020 Issue Brief This issue brief analyzes hospital payments paid by private payers and by Medicare for a selection of inpatient services, including services requiring similar inpatient treatments to those used for COVID-19. It finds that private insurance payments for such services vary widely and exceed Medicare payment levels.
Where are the COVID-19 Hotspots? Tracking State Outbreaks June 30, 2020 Issue Brief This brief analyzes multiple COVID-19 metrics to determine which states the pandemic is moving in the wrong, or right, direction as an increasing number of cases could be the result of more testing or the result of increasing transmission, or a combination of both.
Update on COVID-19 Funding for Hospitals and Other Providers April 24, 2020 Blog This blog is an overview of the outstanding questions related to the $100 billion for hospitals and other providers in the CARES Act and whether there will be meaningful protections for the uninsured and people with private coverage who could face surprise bills.
Interactive Maps Highlight Urban-Rural Differences in Hospital Bed Capacity April 23, 2020 News Release As the U.S. coronavirus outbreak spreads beyond densely populated metropolitan areas, a new KFF analysis finds that rural areas typically have fewer intensive care hospital resources than their urban counterparts, and populations at greater risk of developing serious illness and complications from COVID-19. While metro and non-metro areas have similar numbers of…
Urban and Rural Differences in Coronavirus Pandemic Preparedness April 23, 2020 Issue Brief The coronavirus outbreak has hit densely populated urban areas of the United States first and hardest. Some health systems have experienced surges of patients, raising concerns that there are not enough hospital beds, staffing, and equipment. The novel coronavirus was slower to spread to rural areas in the U.S., but…
KFF Analysis: Number of Coronavirus Cases, Distribution of $30B in CARES Act funding and Medicare Advantage Penetration by State April 22, 2020 Fact Sheet Number of Coronavirus Cases, Distribution of $30B in CARES Act funding and Medicare Advantage Penetration by State State Number of COVID-19 Cases on April 21, 2020 Percent of Total COVID-19 Cases First Distribution of CARES Act Payments Percent of Total Money Distributed Percent of Medicare Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, 2020…
How Much More Than Medicare Do Private Insurers Pay? A Review of the Literature April 15, 2020 Issue Brief This brief reviews findings from recent studies that compare Medicare and private health insurance payment rates for both hospital and physician services.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act: Summary of Key Health Provisions April 9, 2020 Issue Brief This summary of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act highlights and summarizes health-related provisions focused on the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and support for the global response.