Based on the Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-19 Data Tracker website, here is the FEHBlog’s chart of new weekly COVID-19 cases and deaths over the 14th week of 2020 through 32nd week of this year (beginning April 2, 2020, and ending August 11, 2021); using Thursday as the first day of the week in order to facilitate this weekly update):

and here is the CDC’s latest overall weekly hospitalization rate chart for COVID-19:

The FEHBlog has noticed that the new cases and deaths chart shows a flat line for new weekly deaths  because new cases significantly exceed new deaths. Accordingly here is a chart of new COVID-19 deaths over the same period (April 2, 2020, through August 11, 2021):

Finally here is a COVID-19 vaccinations chart over the period December 17, 2020, through August 11, 2021, which also uses Thursday as the first day of the week:

Here is a link to the Centers for Disease Control’s (“CDC”) latest weekly review for the COVID data tracker upon which the FEHBlog relies. The review is aptly titled: “Put on Your Masks and Thinking Caps.”

The American Hospital Association has released on You Tube a two minute long presentation on the value of COVID-19 vaccines. It’s called Eight Things to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine. Its message should be widely distributed.

The Federal Times reports that Kaiser Permanente which is the third largest carrier in the FEHB Program announced a COVID-19 vaccine incentive for its FEHB plan membership today.

The CDC also issued 2021-22 Flu Season FAQs today. Among thing the FEHBlog learned that “All flu vaccines will be quadrivalent (four component), meaning designed to protect against four different flu viruses. For more information: Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine | CDC.”

In an ironic twist, check out this quote from Fierce Healthcare

“The recent emergence of the delta variant has introduced some uncertainty to our second half visits outlook,” said Ido Schoenberg, M.D., chairman and CEO of Amwell, during the call.

“With mask mandates quickly returning and also acknowledging other trends we are observing within visit mix and volumes, we need to account for these other dynamics and a likely weaker cold and flu season due to these variant-related protective measures,” he said, also noting the company does not expect extra COVID-related demand.

“Consequently, we are adjusting down our visit forecast for the remainder of the year to account for these factors,” he said.

As the French say, “quelle domage”.

But seriously folks, Revcycle Intelligence informs us that

The percentage of telehealth claim lines has stabilized at about 5 percent of medical claim lines, indicating a new balance of virtual and in-person care.

The analysis conducted by FAIR Health as part of its Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker included data representing the privately insured population, including Medicare Advantage, and excluded Medicare fee-for-service and Medicaid claims data.

The data revealed that the percentage telehealth claim lines increased slightly to 5 percent in May 2021, from 4.9 percent the previous month. The slight increase suggests a stabilization of telehealth utilization since telehealth claim lines had declined each month from February to April of this year.

And what’s more —

• Healthcare Dive has a helpful wrap up article on the HIMSS conference. Take a look.
• Federal News Network reports that the General Services Administration released federal employee travel per diems for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021. The combined per diems provide a cap of the federal contractor travel expenses that can be charged against an experience rated FEHB contract.
• From Capitol Hill, Roll Call reports that nine centrist House Democrats have told Speaker Pelosi in writing that “We will not consider voting for a budget resolution until the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passes the House and is signed into law.” Roll Call adds that “Together, they’ve got more than enough support to stall the budget in the narrowly divided House where Democrats can lose no more than three members on party-line votes. No Republicans are expected to vote for the budget resolution, which is needed to begin the process on a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package chock full of Democratic priorities.”