“COVID-19 Could Increase Seniors’ Rapid Disenrollment in Medicare Advantage,” by Bailey Bryant, Home Health Care News Quote: “There’s a lot of speculation about what the coronavirus will mean for the Medicare Advantage industry, especially as it relates to home-based care. Some believe it could mean more MA opportunities for at-home care providers in 2021 — or even sooner, as CMS recently announced that plans can provide mid-year benefit enhancements in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, others worry it could hinder home care opportunities in the space.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): MA virus quandary.      
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“The Potential Health Care Costs And Resource Use Associated With COVID-19 In The United States,” by Sarah M. Bartsch, et al., Health Affairs   Quote: “With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the major concerns is the burden COVID-19 will impose on the United States (U.S.) health care system. We developed a Monte Carlo simulation model representing the U.S. population and what can happen to each person who gets infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). We estimate resource use and direct medical costs per infection and at the national level, with various “attack rates” (infection
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“Coronavirus to accelerate Social Security, Medicare depletion dates, U.S. officials say,” by David Lawder, Reuters   Quote: “The 2020 Social Security and Medicare trustees reports released on Wednesday did not reflect projections from the coronavirus pandemic but showed continued long-term funding shortfalls for retirement, disability and seniors’ healthcare benefits. … Trump administration officials said that while they have made no official projections on the effects of the virus, if a 15% reduction in employment and revenues persists over the full 2020 year, they expect those depletion dates will move forward.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term
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“What to Do About Your Relatives in Long-Term Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic,” by Catherine Roberts, Consumer Reports   Quote: “The decision can be fraught with complications. Is being on lockdown in a nursing home safer than being in an imperfectly quarantined home? Can family and friends provide everything that’s needed? And what are the financial implications of bringing someone home from a nursing home? Of course, there’s no one correct answer to these questions.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Well, actually, there is one correct answer to the last of those questions.
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