Assessing Online Availability of At-Home COVID-19 Tests Ahead of Private Insurance Reimbursement January 13, 2022 Issue Brief This data note explores findings from on an 8-day online search for at home COVID-19 tests at major retailers. The findings are described against the backdrop of the Biden Administration policy requiring plans to cover the cost of these tests. We find that these tests remain hard to find and that this limited availability could negatively affect the success of the reimbursement strategy.
State Delivery System and Payment Strategies Aimed at Improving Outcomes and Lowering Costs in Medicaid January 12, 2022 Issue Brief State Medicaid programs are using managed care and an array of other service delivery and payment system reforms, financial incentives, and managed care contracting requirements to help achieve better outcomes and lower costs. This brief examines what delivery system and payment reform initiatives are in place across states; how are states linking financial incentives and using transparency to improve quality and outcomes; and how are states leveraging managed care plan contracts to advance delivery system and payment reform initiatives.
A Year of Vaccine Inequity December 22, 2021 Slide Just 7% of low-income countries’ populations have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of December 20, well behind the 40% target for 2021.
KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: Differences in Vaccine Attitudes Between Rural, Suburban, and Urban Areas December 22, 2021 Poll Finding This report examines the views and experiences of people in rural, urban and suburban areas related to the pandemic, and finds they hold very different views of the COVID-19 vaccines, particularly when it comes to children.
Omicron Variant Increases Worries and Gives Momentum to COVID-19 Booster Shots; May Motivate a Small Share of Unvaccinated Adults to Get an Initial Shot December 21, 2021 News Release The emergence of the omicron COVID-19 variant is encouraging many already vaccinated adults to get a recommended booster shot but is providing only a little motivation for unvaccinated adults to get an initial shot, a new KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor quick response survey finds. Fielded from Dec. 15-20 to provide…
KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: Early Omicron Update December 21, 2021 Poll Finding This analysis from the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor explores the public’s response to the news about the omicron variant of coronavirus, and finds that while it may convince vaccinated adults to get their COVID-19 booster vaccine, unvaccinated adults are largely unmoved by the news.
Politics and Boosters December 15, 2021 Slide The partisan divide that has emerged early into America’s booster campaign could increase pressure on health systems in heavily Republican areas if booster intentions hold.
Characteristics of Vaccinated Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections December 15, 2021 Issue Brief This brief describes the characteristics of fully vaccinated hospitalized patients who have COVID-19 breakthrough infections, in comparison to people who are not fully vaccinated and hospitalized with COVID-19.
“Breakthrough” COVID-19 Hospitalizations Among Fully Vaccinated Patients Occur Most Often among Older Adults and Involve People with Chronic Health Conditions December 15, 2021 News Release “Breakthrough” hospitalizations involving COVID-19 among people who are fully vaccinated against the disease most often affected older adults and people with other chronic health conditions, finds a new analysis of hospital data from June through September by KFF and Epic Research. More than two-thirds (69%) of breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred…
Explaining the New COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Health Care Provider Staff December 15, 2021 Issue Brief This issue brief examines the new regulations, explains the status of the pending litigation, and identifies issues to watch.