COVID-19 vaccines are in circulation, but actually getting one is proving to be a challenge. I’m Jeff Lagasse with Healthcare Finance News, and we’ll explore why and touch on other developments in this week’s Top Stories.
Vaccines are among the main tools being employed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, those eligible for the vaccine can use the online fitness membership platform ClassPass to search for vaccination centers near them. In MobiHealthNews, (https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/classpass-adds-covid-19-vaccine-search-feature-its-platform) we see that within the app and the website, members can find the most convenient location as well as operating hours and contact information. Vaccine appointments can’t be scheduled directly, but instructions are provided on how to do so, and while currently this is available only in Boston, Chicago and New York, there are plans to expand in the near future.
That may come as welcome news for the state of New Jersey, which has been having a rough go of it on the vaccination front. According to HealthcareITNews, (https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/new-jersey-blames-microsoft-weeks-vaccine-rollout-glitches) the state has faced weeks of glitches on its Microsoft-powered COVID-19 vaccine registration website, frequently forcing the state to rely on counties and hospitals to schedule would-be recipients. The booking portal has required fixes almost daily, leading to temporary downtimes, prompting state officials to fret over what will happen when eligibility expands to a broader scope of the population. Other states have used Microsoft’s platform with generally favorable results, but the company acknowledged this week that it was still working on addressing some technical issues.
Finally this week, the nation’s major insurers have filed their fourth quarter 2020 financial results, and the numbers reflect the impact the pandemic has had on payers. Healthcare Finance News reports (https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/fourth-quarter-covid-19-costs-catches-insurers) that while most insurers still posted substantial profits -- in some cases beating expectations -- patients who avoided care at the beginning of the pandemic are now seeking to make up lost ground, which is catching up to payers in a tangible way. CVS Health, for example, posted a strong fourth quarter yet its profit saw a 44% year-over-year decline. Insurers are anticipating a topsy-turvy year ahead.
I’m Jeff Lagasse with Healthcare Finance News, and this has been Top Stories.