Based on the CDC’s Covid Data Tracker, the CDC’s weekly review tells us

New Cases – As of February 8, 2023, the current 7-day average of weekly new cases (40,404) decreased 1.0% compared with the previous 7-day average (40,815). 

New Hospitalizations — The current 7-day daily average for February 1–7, 2023, was 3,665. This is an 6.2% decrease from the prior 7-day average (3,907) from January 25–31, 2023.

New Deaths — The current 7-day average of new deaths (453) decreased 9.7% compared with the previous 7-day average (502).

Vaccinations — As of February 8, 2023, 670.3 million vaccine doses have been administered in the United States. Overall, about 229.8 million people, or 69.2% of the total U.S. population, have completed a primary series. About 52.5 million people, or 15.8% of the U.S. population, have received an updated booster dose.

Communities Levels — As of February 9, 2023, there are 91 (2.8%) counties, districts, or territories with a high COVID-19 Community Level, 715 (22.2%) with a medium Community Level, and 2,407 (74.8%) with a low Community Level. Compared with last week, the number of counties, districts, or territories in the high level decreased by 1.2%, in the medium level decreased by 3.2%, and in the low level increased by 4.3%. 

The weekly report explains why immunocompromised folks with weakened immune systems should create a Covid action plan.

The CDC’s weekly flu report informs us “Seasonal influenza activity is low nationally.” Nevertheless the CDC adds

CDC reported 9 new flu-related pediatric deaths this week, bringing the total for the season to 106, the highest number of flu deaths in children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of these children were not vaccinated. This tragic milestone underscores the importance of vaccinating children against flu. Flu vaccination uptake in children is lower by about 6 percentage points than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. While flu activity has returned to low levels this season, CDC continues to recommend flu vaccination as long as flu viruses are spreading.

During the most recent 10 flu seasons, the number of pediatric flu deaths in a season has ranged from 1 (2020-2021) to 199 (2019-2020). Prior to the pandemic, the record low for pediatric deaths was 37, which was during the 2011-2012 season.

AHIP reports,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added COVID-19 vaccinations for children, adolescents, and adults to its immunization schedule.  Adding these vaccines to the schedule formalizes guidance for health care providers and schools.

• CDC recommends that healthy children 6 months to 4 years old receive a primary series of two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent COVID-19 vaccine followed by a third dose of a bivalent vaccine.
• CDC recommends that children aged 5 to 12 years receive two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine followed by a bivalent shot.
• CDC recommends children ages 12 and older should get either two doses of the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Novavax vaccine, followed by a bivalent booster.
• Immunocompromised children should receive three doses of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as a primary series instead of two shots, and should receive a bivalent booster.
• CDC recommends healthy adults receive a primary COVID-19 vaccination of two doses of the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Novavax vaccine and a bivalent booster, similar to children.  Some adults may choose to receive a Novavax booster instead if they would not like the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech shot, or if those boosters are not available. 
• CDC recommends immunocompromised adults receive either two doses of the Novavax vaccine, or three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine and a bivalent booster.

CDC also recommends that adults who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine receive one booster dose, followed by a bivalent booster.

MedPage Today offers a report on

The topic [of] highlights from ACIP’s new adult schedule for 2023, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and why this new schedule may be a collector’s item.

It’s a new year, which means a new ACIP adult immunization schedule — a valuable resource collating ACIP’s most up-to-date vaccination recommendations.

Here are this year’s five most important changes:

• COVID vaccines now front and center
• New emphasis on polio vaccination
• Inclusion of some nonvaccine products (such as monoclonal antibody products)
• Pharmacists group has approved the schedule for the first time
• New shared clinical decision-making option for pneumococcal vaccines

From the No Surprises Act front, the American Hospital Association relates

Following a Feb. 6 court decision that vacated nationwide the federal government’s revised independent dispute resolution process for determining payment for out-of-network services under the No Surprises Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today instructed certified IDR entities to hold all payment determinations until the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issue further guidance. Certified IDR entities have also been instructed to recall any payment determinations issued after Feb. 6, 2023. 

“The Departments are currently reviewing the court’s decision and evaluating current IDR processes, guidance, templates, and systems for updates that will be necessary to comply with the court’s order,” CMS said. “The Departments will provide specific directions to certified IDR entities for resuming the issuance of payment determinations that are consistent with the court’s judgment and order. Certified IDR entities should continue working through other parts of the IDR process, including eligibility determinations, as they wait for additional direction from the Departments.”

The FEHBlog notes that while the court ordered changes to the IDR rule which favor the plaintiffs, the court did not vacate the IDR rule. The FEHBlog does not otherwise doubt the veracity of this report.

From the Rx coverage and research front —

• BioPharma Dive reports “Pfizer and partner BioNTech on Friday started the first human trial of a messenger RNA-based vaccine for shingles, believing their shot can be easier to take, and more efficiently produced, than the one available for use [Shingrix]. 

• Medscape alerts us that a new vibrating, drug-free pill to relieve constipation is on the market.

From the healthcare quality front, NCQA puts us on notice that

This year’s HEDIS public comment is open Monday, February 13–Monday, March 13.

We’re seeking advice on:

• Revisions to diabetes measures.
• Expansion of race and ethnicity stratifications in select HEDIS measures.
• Advancing gender-inclusion measurement in two HEDIS measures.
• Retirement of several measures.

This year’s public comment will go live at Monday, February 13, 9:00 AM ET.

We’ll post the link and more details here, so check back.

To hear NCQA leaders discuss HEDIS public comment, attend our Tuesday, February 28 Future of HEDIS webinar.

From the U.S. healthcare business front —

Kaiser Permanente released its 2022 financial results

Total operating revenues for 2022 were $95.4 billion compared to $93.1 billion in 2021. Total operating expenses were $96.7 billion compared to $92.5 billion in the prior year. There was an operating loss of $1.3 billion for the year compared to operating income of $611 million in 2021. * * *

Strong economic headwinds in the financial markets drove a loss in total other income and expense of $3.2 billion in 2022 compared to a gain of $7.5 billion in 2021. For 2022, there was a net loss of $4.5 billion compared to net income of $8.1 billion in 2021.

Capital spending totaled $3.5 billion, consistent with the $3.5 billion spent the prior year. During 2022, Kaiser Permanente opened 4 new medical offices. Kaiser Permanente now has 737 medical offices, 39 owned hospitals, and 43 retail and employee clinics.

“Clinical staff shortages, COVID-19 care and testing, higher costs of goods and services, and deferred care drove Kaiser Permanente’s expenses beyond revenue,” said chair and chief executive officer Greg A. Adams. “Rather than pull back amid financial pressures, we made the decision to continue our long-term and strategic investments in care and service improvements while carefully managing resources. Our staff and physicians worked hard to meet our members’ needs and I am grateful for their outstanding contributions.”

Fierce Healthcare reports

Major for-profit hospital chain Tenet Healthcare is projecting growth in 2023 thanks to less reliance on contract labor and growth in its surgery subsidiary.

The chain announced in its earnings release that it generated $102 million in profits with $4.9 billion in net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022. It also released the full year financial guidance for 2023, projecting adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to be $3.16 to $3.36 billion.

“Our momentum going into 2023 positions us for continued growth as we remain focused on expanding our industry-leading ambulatory business and investing in technology, innovation and talent,” said CEO Saum Sutaria in a statement.

Beckers Hospital Review identifies six considerations related to the fact that 43% of rural hospitals are in the red.

Reuters reports “AstraZeneca (AZN.L) on Thursday said it was poised to grow in 2023 and beyond, banking on its burgeoning line-up of cancer, metabolic and rare disease drugs to pick up the pace from dwindling COVID product sales.”