While payers will not need to reimburse providers for government-purchased vaccine doses, questions remain regarding who will cover vaccine administration fees under an EUA. Percentage of Plans Reporting Reduction in Preventive Services, by Service Type, Figure 4. As for barriers to long-term telehealth adoption, technology access was the top concern, followed by provider reimbursement. In early September 2020, Avalere conducted an online survey of 40 payers, including 39 US health plans and 1 PBM, representing roughly 48 million covered lives. The analysis by consultancy Avalere Health found the skilled nursing industry suffered a bigger volume hit than home health providers at the height of … Jennifer Sheets, Interim HealthCare's CEO, says the company has seen a “huge demand increase … we've got double and triple the referrals now coming in." The remaining half was broadly divided, citing issues with cost, patient access, and distribution (Figure 1). In September, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) urged state leaders […] Avalere research was published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Informatics, showing a considerable drop in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Medicare beneficiaries as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated one of the country’s largest public health challenges: improving population health through routine and … One in three Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will start offering new supplemental benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic next year, a new analysis finds. New analysis from Avalere finds that, as in years past, MA plans will continue to increase their supplemental benefit offerings in 2021.More plans will offer primarily health-related benefits, such as meals and transportation. CMS Takes Steps to Expand Access to COVID-19 Antibody... Podcast: Designing Pull Funding for a COVID-19 Vaccine, COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Distribution Stakeholder Considerations, Payer considerations for vaccines and therapeutics, Short- and long-term impacts on telehealth. All Rights Reserved. The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care: How the Pandemic is Delaying Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment for American Seniors. Consistent with these findings, almost half of survey respondents reported substantial increases in telehealth encounters this year, with 80% of those being audio and video. COVID-19 has put such a strain on Indiana’s health care system that state officials are urging retired workers to return. The goal of the analysis was to examine over 6 million oncology claims to identify changes in the utilization of cancer care services and gain insight into the impact of COVID-19 on access to cancer care, about those services ability to diagnose and treat cancer in a timely manner, and on the treatment journeys for patients. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. For 25% of plans, their top concern is the cost of a vaccine. 1 | Avalere Health Copyright ©2020. UnitedHealth Group and Eli Lilly are teaming up to further study the effects of the drugmaker's antibody therapy bamlanivimab in high-risk COVID-19 patients. In recent months, state and federal policy makers have worked to further telehealth use with greater access to broadband internet technology. With “the cavalry coming,” the focus is now shifting to how, when and where vaccines should be distributed. I founded Avalere Health in 2000, grew the firm organically as CEO, engaged ABS Capital as a minority equity partner in 2008, and sold the company to Inovalon (NASDAQ: INOV) in 2015. Reimbursement for administration fees are still being finalized. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has provided additional telehealth flexibilities in Medicare, waiving cost sharing, allowing mid-year plan changes, and relaxing requirements. Limitations on Delivery of Care due to COVID-19 Have Resulted in Significant Reductions in Cancer Screenings, Figure 3. Even as health-care workers battled Covid-19 in emergency rooms and intensive-care units across the country, the industry saw 1.4 million jobs vanish in … A NTAP for remdesivir would only likely be relevant after the COVID … Deferral of care during the COVID-19 pandemic is resulting in fewer claims and diagnoses among Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees, which could lead to a 3%–7% reduction in 2021 risk scores and lower plan payments in 2021. Additionally, all 50 states and DC have expanded telehealth coverage and reimbursement through Section 1135 waivers and executive actions. New Avalere research featuring payer views of COVID-19 finds a heightened concern about the clinical effectiveness of related future vaccines and therapeutics, a substantial reduction in preventive services due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and a … According to a report released by Health and Human Services in August, 44% of Medicare primary care visits were delivered via telehealth in April 2020, compared to 0.1% in February. The reimbursement rates for private insurers and Medicaid are still unclear. Commercial payers are expected to bear the majority of those costs, with Avalere projecting they could pay between $5.6 billion and $9.9 billion. For vaccines requiring a series of 2 or more doses, the initial dose(s) will be reimbursed at $16.94, and the final dose in the series will be reimbursed at $28.39. Barriers to Care Caused by COVID-19 Complications Have Resulted in Significant Reductions in Patient Visits, Figure 2. Anticipated Changes in Telehealth Utilization After PHE vs. 2019 (Shown: Payers), Figure 5. The convergence of the seasonal influenza and the current COVID-19 vaccines will merge several distr... Sign up for the latest Insights from Avalere, Figure 1. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Individual and clinical characteristics of home health patients continue to shift, reflective of both America’s aging population and providers’ ability to handle more acute cases. Eighty-eight percent of payers surveyed plan to increase telehealth investment, integrating it into the 2021 plan year and beyond. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected every aspect of health care, and oncology is no exception. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. To receive Avalere updates, connect with us. On June 1, MA plans submitted their bids for 2021, including their projected risk scores for the upcoming plan year. The potential long-term impacts of COVID-19 on how Medicare Advantage's star ratings are calculated remain unclear, experts say. In summary, payers are more concerned with short-term pandemic impacts (e.g., COVID-19 hospitalizations and therapeutics) than with the reduction in preventive services utilization. In this episode of the Avalere Health Essential Voice 2020 Election series, our experts discuss the impact of the COVID surge on the campaigns’ closing arguments, the current outlook on a relief package, and how the election results will affect individual stakeholders, hours before returns begin to … ... senior consultant at Avalere, said during Fierce Health … Our life sciences, plan, and provider clients count on us to help them anticipate and adapt to the latest industry trends. The drop-off in utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to reduced payments to Medicare Advantage health plans next year, a new analysis of … Payer Expectations of Vaccine Reimbursement Timeline Following FDA Approval or Authorization, Figure 3. E4– Get the Facts on COVID-19: The Future of Healthcare Delivery by Avalere Health published on 2020-03-30T21:24:06Z In the fourth episode of this series, Avalere experts discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and the future of telehealth. Avalere analysis finds that at least 5 million Black and Hispanic people may lose their health insurance as a result of the pandemic. Avalere is a healthcare consulting firm dedicated to improving healthcare. As of March 30, CMS is now allowing more than 80 additional services through telehealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Avalere. COVID-19 Outlook and Q&A Session with Avalere Health & McKesson Published May 22, 2020 Brought to you by McKesson Watch this webinar to get answers to some top policy questions for general practices in a Q&A call hosted by McKesson and powered by healthcare policy experts from Avalere. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. L. No. The research featured in this Insight comes from Avalere Federal Policy 360™. CMS Takes Steps to Expand Access to COVID-19 Antibody... Podcast: Designing Pull Funding for a COVID-19 Vaccine, Patient evaluation and management visits for both new and established patients (Figure 1), Breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancer screenings (Figure 2). Avalere Health Senior Consultant Abby Moorman said FDA approval alone isn't enough to show substantial clinical benefit. This survey considers key areas regarding COVID-19: For nearly half of the payers surveyed, clinical effectiveness was the chief concern regarding future COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Reductions in Infusion Services in July and Later Months May Be Attributable to Delayed and Postponed Screenings. An estimate from consulting firm Avalere predicts that nearly 8 … Health … A new analysis by Avalere Health concludes that multiple Medicare Advantage claims dropped dramatically in April due to COVID-19, a trend that could depress payments to insurers in 2021. Avalere Health LLC. Inpatient COVID-19 hospitalizations could cost the U.S. healthcare system between $9.6 billion and $16.9 billion in 2020, according to Avalere. It remains unclear the full extent of changes to the payer mix due to the COVID-19 pandemic job losses. A report published by Avalere Health concluded at least 5 million Black and Hispanic individuals may ultimately lose their health insurance in 2020 as a … To receive Avalere updates, connect with us. “The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care: How the Pandemic is Delaying Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment for American Seniors” found reductions in the following areas: Read the COA press release on this research. Over 80% of payers cited decreases in screenings for cancer, hypertension, and diabetes—as well as child and adult immunizations—since the start of the pandemic (Figure 3). The survey revealed a substantial decrease in preventive care. The home health industry, meanwhile, has boomed. Pfizer, Moderna and the University of Oxford are among the organizations to tout highly effective COVID-19 vaccines this month. CMS has placed limits on the number of COVID-19 tests per beneficiary that are covered by Medicare without an order from a pharmacist or other … 27 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. When COVID spurs innovation. The rapid and widespread COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on healthcare resources and That’s according to the latest Home Health Chartbook, an annual overview of the home health landscape put together by the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation and Avalere Health. In preparation for a future COVID-19 vaccine, payers’ primary concerns are clinical effectiveness and overall cost. Impact of COVID-19 on Organizations Serving Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities . The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing economic and healthcare inequalities between racial groups in the US. “Coronavirus is definitely a reminder that health care is, in fact, a public good,” said Dan Mendelson, founder of healthcare advisory consultancy Avalere Health. According to a recent Avalere Health survey of 39 U.S. health plans and one PBM, collectively representing about 48 million covered lives, the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics is the top COVID-19 concern for more than 47% of health plans. Medicare set the rate at $28.39 for administering single-dose vaccines. Seventy-eight percent of payers expect to begin reimbursing for COVID-19 vaccines within 4 months of Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval or Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) (Figure 2). I founded Avalere Health in 2000, grew the firm organically as CEO, engaged ABS Capital as a minority equity partner in 2008, and sold the company to Inovalon (NASDAQ: INOV) in 2015. Nursing homes faced growing competition from other health care providers even before the pandemic. Most payers (73%) expect up to 30% of future primary care visits to be conducted via telehealth (Figures 4–5). Patient health: Care management & patient engagement Caring for patients in the time of COVID-19 has unique challenges. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), utilized Inovalon Provider Clearinghouse data, which represents 5%–7% of the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) population. The analysis… Looking to the future, most payers anticipate long-term adoption of telehealth services. Top Payer Concerns for COVID-19 Vaccines & Therapeutics, Figure 2. New Avalere Health analysis of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims data reveals large decreases in skilled nursing facility (SNF) and home health care use following the widespread decline in inpatient hospitalizations amid the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient Affordability; Topic Description Timelines Source(s) of Authority Resources; Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Testing: Medicaid/Medicare: New cost-sharing requirements for COVID-19 testing have been established for Medicare, MA, and Medicaid. Anticipated Share of Future Primary Care Visits Provided via Telehealth (Shown: Payers). Avalere Health An Inovalon Company 1201 New York Ave, NW Washington, DC 20005 P | 202.207.1300 avalere.com . RELATED: Trump administration opens up … Although the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act requires commercial insurers and employer-sponsored plans to cover a COVID-19 vaccine with 15 days of an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation, providers will not need to be reimbursed for US government-purchased doses. Payers are generally more focused on the short-term economic impacts of COVID-19, including the costs of hospitalizations, vaccines, and therapeutics. Google Scholar; 28 Collins SR, Bhupal HK, Doty MM. Participants reflect the payer landscape in membership, type, and geo-distribution. For the payers surveyed, deferred or forgone care of patients did not rank among the top concerns. Access guidance and resources caring for a diverse patient population, including telehealth resources, patient engagement tools and more. Tune into another episode of Avalere’s Journal Club Review podcast series on Avalere Health Essent... Sign up for the latest Insights from Avalere, Figure 1. 116-136 (Mar 27, 2020). The analysis, released Thursday by Avalere, attributes the spike to special enrollment due to massive job losses caused by COVID-19.The boost in …