Editor's Note: EH Weekly News Roundup will be on hiatus the week of April 27th. We will publish again on May 6th.
Don't lump seniors together on coronavirus. Older people aren't all the same
(USA Today)
COVID-19 is a serious threat to older adults, but we need to be careful not to lump all older adults together. While 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths occurred among those older than age 65, a closer look shows those who died were in the older range, and were already sick or frail. The younger group of older adults has responded differently. The writers caution that systemic decisions should not lump all of those over age 65 into one group.
We Can’t Shut Our Eyes – Black People Are Being Infected and Dying from the Coronavirus at Alarming Rates
(Community Catalyst)
The pandemic has revealed faults in national, state, and local health infrastructures, including their built-in racial and ethnic inequities. Infection and death rates among Black Americans are alarming, though not yet completely studied. Advocates are calling for race data to be collected and disseminated quickly. Advocates in health, housing, social supports, and economic security must coalesce around the present danger and begin to work for systemic change and public policy improvements.
What will health care look like after the pandemic
(HBR)
Amidst the coronavirus crisis, parts of America’s health care system have dramatically changed. Telemedicine has increased; parking lots are triage units. The definition of health care provider has expanded, and insurance companies and Medicare/Medicaid now pay for previously uncovered services. One expert says it's time to build a system that incorporates some of these innovations when the pandemic passes. Can we build a system to handle a sudden rise in patients? The writer advocates for the establishment of a Public Health Workforce, similar to the Peace Corps or Teach for America.
Medicare Beneficiaries Without Supplemental Coverage are At Risk for Out-of-Pocket Costs Relating to COVID-19 Treatment
(KFF)
Some 6 million older adults on Medicare, but without supplement insurance, could be hit with high out-of-pocket costs if they get sick with COVID-19. This is despite a federal policy change stating that the uninsured and Medicare/Medicaid recipients won’t pay for coronavirus testing and treatment. These Medicare recipients could face deductibles of
$
1,408 or more for hospitalization
.
Medicare protects beneficiaries from surprise medical bills for covered services, but recipients must pay separate deductibles for hospitalizations, outpatient services, and prescription drugs.
The Guardian
and
Kaiser Health News
are documenting every life of a medical worker who has died from coronavirus in the line of duty.
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Food Assistance Programs Provide Critical Relief and Boost the Economy
(NHFPI)
With
initial unemployment claims
in the first three weeks following the beginning of the crisis exceeding 100,000 in New Hampshire, the need for programs providing nutritional aid has grown dramatically, and will be key as the state continues to move through this crisis. New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute provides comprehensive analysis of federal and state nutrition assistance programs and their impact on Granite Staters during the pandemic.
In a Crisis, Pull out All the Stops
(Concord Coalition)
Lucy Hodder of UNH's Institute for Health Policy and Practice was featured in a Concord Coalition podcast on the pandemic’s impact on the our health care system. Hodder noted that some recent waivers of Medicare/Medicaid regulations—such as telemedicine options— have helped open access to services, and she believes that change will become permanent. She is optimistic that the pandemic will improve systems working together better, but she fears having enough resources to sustain some current cooperative efforts. Leadership is needed to identify ways systems failed, to anticipate future problems, and to shore up the entire health care system.
NH Humanities Receives CARES Act Funding
(NH Humanities)
NH Humanities received a share of $75 million awarded to U.S. cultural institutions in the federal CARES Act. Applications for NH grants from $2,500 to $10,000 will be available May 1 and grant recipients will be announced May 15.
Find Out More.
Webinar: How to Access Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits
(New Futures)
The 2020 Consumer Resource Guide on How to Access Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits
will be discussed at Noon, April 24 in a webinar sponsored by New Futures and the Institute for Health Policy and Practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has compromised parts of NH's substance use and mental health treatment systems. The guide has been updated to reflect changes in local resources.
RSVP to the webinar here.
Home health workers: Big hearts, small paychecks
(Union Leader)
Some of the lowest paid workers in NH are serving on the front lines in the pandemic, providing in-home services to keep frail older adults out of nursing homes. The average hourly wage for home health aides is $13.72, up from $12.90 in 2008. Home-care services are reimbursed through Medicaid, but rates do not cover costs. NH increased Medicaid reimbursements last January, and another will come in 2021, but those rates will not be adequate, agencies say. Sununu is using CARES funding to provide a $300 weekly bonus to full-time home health workers, and $150 for part-time. Agencies say this is a short-term fix for a chronically under-funded system.
RELATED:
Sununu: Crisis could slash state budget by $500 million; lawmakers disagree
(Monitor)
Next year, $500 million may need to be cut from the NH budget, according to the governor. The pandemic shut-down means a huge revenue loss for businesses. Democrats argue that $1.25 million in federal stimulus funds could be used to cover those losses, rather than program cuts. The governor says funds are meant for specific, COVID-19 expenditures, not conceptual losses in revenue. The U.S. Treasury is expected to rule on the debate by April 24. Sununu says federal virus-related costs have already affected some programs, including $26 million in DHHS programming.
TAKING ARTISTIC LICENSE DURING A PANDEMIC:
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EH News Roundup is a weekly publication of the Endowment for Health. Its purpose is to monitor national and statewide media coverage that may be pertinent to our work as a health foundation including policy issues surrounding health and health care. EH News Roundup is intended to inform, but does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or priorities of the Endowment for Health. We offer EH News Roundup to EH staff, Board and
Advisory Council members as well as to interested community partners. The publication is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of all media coverage.
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