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State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus
States are taking aggressive action to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus and prepare their health care systems for dealing with those who become ill with COVID-19, the disease the virus causes. This tool features state-level data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, state policy actions, and data about health coverage and provider capacity within each state.
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FAQs on Medicare Coverage and Costs Related to COVID-19 Testing and Treatment
These FAQs provide the latest guidance on testing and treatment related to COVID-19 for Medicare beneficiaries.
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Why the U.S. Doesn’t Have More Hospital Beds
With much of the news focused on the surge capacity of the nation’s hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Drew Altman’s Axios column examines why the nation has a shortage of hospital beds and what can be done about it.
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How Prepared is the U.S. to Respond to COVID-19 Relative to Other Countries?
Compared to most similarly large and wealthy countries, the U.S. has fewer practicing physicians per capita but has a similar number of licensed nurses per capita. Looking specifically at the hospital setting, the U.S. has more hospital-based employees per capita than most other comparable countries, but nearly half of these hospital workers are non-clinical staff.
Issue Brief Read MoreThe U.S. Has Fewer Physicians and Hospital Beds Per Capita Than Italy and Other Countries Overwhelmed by COVID-19
A new analysis and chart collection finds that the U.S. has fewer hospital beds and practicing physicians per capita than many similarly large and wealthy countries with health care systems already strained by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to Italy and Spain, two countries in which hospitals have already been…
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How Much Could Medicare Beneficiaries Pay For a Hospital Stay Related to COVID-19?
As the coronavirus continues to spread, the number of people on Medicare admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 related illness is expected to rise. We analyze how much Medicare beneficiaries could pay out-of-pocket for an inpatient hospital admission under traditional Medicare (assuming no supplemental coverage) or Medicare Advantage plans.
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The Affordable Care Act’s Enduring Resilience
In this article in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, Larry Levitt examines the Affordable Care Act 10 years after it’s enactment. The article notes that the law has taken numerous blows, yet due to its policy design and the political forces it has unleashed, the law has shown remarkable resilience.
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10 FAQs on Prescription Drug Importation
These FAQs provide background on prescription drug importation, including how the U.S. currently regulates importation and why it hasn’t been successfully implemented before. These FAQs also describe the newest importation proposals, both by the Trump Administration and at the state level, how these proposals seek to address concerns with prior proposals, and how stakeholders are viewing these newest proposals
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It May Be Time To Waive Patients’ Costs for Coronavirus Treatment
Drew Altman looks at the numbers for COVID-19 treatment, and why it may soon be necessary for Congress to waive out-of-pocket costs for treatment.
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Potential Costs of Coronavirus Treatment for People with Employer Coverage
As COVID-19 spreads within the United States, questions have arisen over the potential costs people may face if they become severely ill and need treatment. While many large insurers have agreed to waive copayments and deductibles for COVID-19 tests, people with private insurance who face deductibles could still be on…
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