Healthcare workers are much more likely to be victims of aggravated assault than workers in any other industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem.
While the early days of the pandemic were marked with regular celebrations of front-line health care workers, those same workers are now plagued by regular violence...
On Wednesday, October 5, there were 2,041 new cases of COVID-19 in Arizona, with 39 new deaths. Arizona’s COVID-19 death total of 20,000 amid the state’s third virus surge, is a heartbreaking reminder of COVID's lethality. Under 60% of Arizonans have received one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 7% of hospital intensive care unit...
On October 5, there were 101,668 new cases of COVID-19 reported across the entire United States and 1,808 new deaths. At least 65% of Americans of all ages have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 56% are fully vaccinated. Transmission rates remain high nationwide, largely due to the spread of the more-contagious Delta...
Arizona hospitals are reporting a 35% net increase in operating profits in 2020 according to a report released last Friday by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), an increase higher than any year-over-year over the past decade. But a new study from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Kaufman Hall warns that...
On Wednesday, September 29, there were 3,388 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Arizona and 39 new COVID-19-related deaths. Deaths are reported by actual date of death. For intensive care unit beds, only 8% remain available statewide, with 30% of ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
This information can be found on the Arizona...
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an award of nearly $1 billion in funding for 1,300 health centers funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program.
The purpose of the funding is to supplement COVID-19-related capital needs, construction or renovation...
This week, important thresholds have been met for the expansion of vaccination for Americans against COVID-19, including children. Johnson & Johnson announced Phase 3 data confirming strong, long lasting protection from the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine. Companies may now pursue insurance upcharges for unvaccinated employees and CMS...
The state of Arizona reported 2,106 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, September 22. There were 74 new COVID-related deaths. In hospitals, 31% of adult intensive care unit (ICU) beds are currently in use by COVID-19 patients and statewide, only 9% of adult ICU beds remain available, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services...
Comments on the Calendar Year 2022 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule are now closed as of September 13. Changes to Medicare Part B payment policies as well as updates to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and the Quality Payment Program (QPP) are included in the annual PFS rule. Providers broadly oppose Medicare...Open
COVID-19 cases and deaths have now returned to levels not seen since last winter's surge, driven by the delta variant and vaccine hesitancy in many pockets of the U.S. In Arizona, on Wednesday, September 15, there were 2,432 new cases reported and 29 new deaths reported related to COVID-19.
Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Chief Medical Officer...News
On September 8, there were 2,222 new cases of COVID-19 reported and 26 new deaths. The total number of deaths in Arizona crossed the 19,000 mark earlier this week. The vaccination rate is still 56.5% of Arizonans, with 6,384 new doses distributed today. In hospitals, 9% of intensive care unit beds are available, 32% of ICU beds are...
On September 7, 2021, there were 301,138 new recorded cases of COVID-19 in the United States. There were 2,226 COVID-19-related deaths. Of the total U.S. population, 63.2% have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
This information comes from the New York Times interactive COVID-19 data tracker.
Children and COVID-19
The...
Spending per beneficiary is growing faster in Medicare Advantage (MA) and private plans than traditional Medicare and Part D prescription drug plans, according to the MedPAC analysis.
Modern Healthcare reports that the spending disparity has experts concerned, considering that Medicare Advantage enrollment is surging, currently...
On Monday, August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will now be marketed under the name Comirnaty and will be available to prevent the disease in individuals 16 years and older. For now, the vaccine will remain under emergency use authorization (EUA) for...
On Wednesday, August 18, Arizona reported 2,402 new cases of COVID-19, 37 new deaths and that 54.5% of Arizonans are now vaccinated. Across the state, 23% of intensive care unit beds are in use by COVID-19 patients and 10% of ICU beds remain available.
This information comes from the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19...
This week the number of children hospitalized with COVID-19 set a record with 1,900 pediatric cases in hospitals across the United States on Sunday night. The Delta variant's rapid spread is to blame, primarily among unvaccinated populations which include children under age 12.
Of all hospitalizations, children comprise just 2.4%...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States as a whole is currently at a community transmission level of “high”. 71.3% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The seven-day moving average deaths from COVID-19 is currently 452 per day with 664 deaths reported to the...Open
Cases are on an exponential increase in Arizona, according to experts. On Wednesday, August 4, there were 2,286 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the state and seven new deaths. The total number of cases is now 935,647 and 18,289 people have died from the virus in Arizona. Total vaccinations are very slowly increasing, with 52.7% of...
There were 1,361 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Arizona on Wednesday, June 28. There were two new deaths. 51.8% of Arizona residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Use of intensive care unit beds across the state rose substantially in the past week, 19% of ICU beds are now in use by COVID-19-related patients,...
Despite a decline in overburdened intensive care units and COVID-19 cases overall since January, there's still a dire shortage of nurses affecting many care providers in Arizona and across the country.
The Hertel Report's Publisher Jim Hammond spoke to the motivating reasons for the shortage on Arizona360 last Friday:
There's a lot...