Week 50 Newsletter

(03/16/21) CMS Hikes COVID-19 Vaccine Pay, Broadens Scope of Providers to Give Jab
The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services has increased COVID-19 vaccination reimbursement rates for Medicare beneficiaries in efforts to encourage more providers to administer the vaccine. Several health professionals have become eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccinations including dentists, optometrists, paramedics, healthcare students and retired medical professionals.

(03/15/21) Addiction and Behavioral Health Care Workers Should Have Access to COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines
This opinion piece from STAT News describes the need for addiction and behavioral health care workers to gain access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the demand for mental health services, these essential health care workers have struggled to obtain PPE and have been excluded from the priority list for the COVID-19 vaccination.

(03/16/21) Digital Divide Yields Income Telehealth Care Access Disparities
A new analysis from the RAND Corporation that assessed the utilization of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic found significant access disparities linked to geographic and economic differences. These findings suggest that policy makers should focus on improving telehealth care access and resources for these groups.

(03/15/21) Congress Targets Telehealth Coverage for Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment
Bipartisan legislation seeks to expand access for mental health and substance use disorder services through mandating coverage from private insurers. Telehealth waivers implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to calls for more permanent solutions such as this legislation.

(03/15/21) The Boom in Out-of-state Telehealth Threatens In-state Providers
Several states have relaxed licensure requirements and telehealth restrictions which allowed out-of-state providers to deliver telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. As states seek to permanently expand access to telehealth services, some providers are concerned about the unintended consequences of expansion.

(03/12/21) A Year in Review: America’s Fight Against COVID-19
The Alliance for Health Policy held a webinar on March 12, 2021 offering a review of the actions taken in the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how health care has changed in the United States and the status of public health today and into the future.

(03/17/21) March 2021 Health Sector Economic Indicators Briefs
New monthly analysis from Altarum has indicated the health workforce is smaller now than at its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020, including recent drops in January 2021. Overall, the health workforce has decreased by 3.5% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

(03/18/21) Executives Rate Provider Burnout As a Disrupting Force in Healthcare
A recent survey has found health care executives rating burnout for providers as one of the most potentially disrupting forces for hospitals and health systems. Burnout, disengagement, and shortages related to these issues were found to be significant concerns beyond loss of revenue for the health sector.

(03/15/21) Addiction and Behavioral Health Care Workers Should Have Access to COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines
This opinion piece from STAT News describes the need for addiction and behavioral health care workers to gain access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the demand for mental health services, these essential health care workers have struggled to obtain PPE and have been excluded from the priority list for the COVID-19 vaccination.

(03/12/21) Expanding Scope of Practice Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Pharmacists have largely contributed to COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts after law makers temporarily expanded scope of practice for these health professionals. Policy experts are advocating for improved reimbursement rates and for scope of practice expansions to continue after the pandemic has ended.