July 22, 2021 | To build vaccine confidence, look to primary care

INDUSTRY NEWS

To build vaccine confidence, look to primary care

In Modern Healthcare's The Checkup, Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association and co-chair of the GTMRx National Task Force Building Vaccine Confidence in the Medical Neighborhood, cited primary care offices as the key to getting the public vaccinated. "Initially, we were very much concerned about the ability to store and distribute vaccines—and the vaccines came in large lots. Now, I think, there was a failure in not planning to move into physician offices and primary care practices a lot quicker than we did... because the truth of the matter is your primary care doctor is the most trusted person in the health care enterprise." (Modern Healthcare*; GTMRx Institute)

Gender pay disparities persist

Women who teach internal medicine specialties are paid significantly less and have lower representation in leadership positions than their male counterparts, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The percentage of women in full-time academic positions has steadily increased since 2009; they now comprise 41% of faculty in full-time academic positions. However, pay and representation disparities persist; this mirrors a larger problem in the medical profession and the. workforce as a whole, Healthcare Dive reports. (Healthcare Dive; JAMA Internal Medicine)

INNOVATION & TRANSFORMATION

ACA enrollment reaches record high

Since February when the Biden administration reopened the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces, two million Americans have signed up for coverage. Total enrollment in the Obamacare marketplaces is now at a record high, though the final numbers are not yet available, says CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. The increases reflect a growing demand for insurance coverage during the pandemic, when many Americans lost job-based coverage or became more worried about remaining uninsured. But they also reflect the fact that recently enacted legislation substantially lowered the price of insurance for those buying their own coverage. (New York Times)

Primary care key to stroke recovery

Primary care teams help stroke patients recover as quickly as possible, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association that emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care. “In this statement, we affirm in a new way the role of the primary care professional in caring for people with stroke,” said Walter N. Kernan, MD, chair of the statement’s writing group. “Primary care professionals can ensure consistent and comprehensive care for the full needs of patients, including coordinating any additional care or services patients may need from community services providers or from subspecialty health care providers.” (Cardiovascular Business; prepared statement)

CONSUMERS & PROVIDERS

HHS to address burnout ARP funding

HHS will make approximately $103 million in American Rescue Plan funding available to tackle health care worker burnout and promote mental health. The funds will support programs to help health care organizations in rural and medically underserved communities build resiliency among newer health care workers and mentor providers on how to respond to stressful situations. "It is essential that we provide behavioral health resources for our healthcare providers … so that they can continue to deliver quality care to our most vulnerable communities," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. (Modern Healthcare*)

Personal vax outreach convinces many “wait and see” folks

A new KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report finds many individuals who were initially hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine in January, but ultimately did get one, say that family, friends and their personal doctors helped change their minds. KFF found that 54% of those who said in January they wanted to “wait and see” have received at least one dose. However, 76% of people who had previously said they would “only get vaccinated if required” or said they would “definitely not” get a vaccine remain unvaccinated. (KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report; GTMRx Institute report)

NEW & NOTED

ACA gets last-month push: The Biden administration is launching a new ad campaign and other marketing outreach as part of an “all-hands effort” to boost ACA exchange signups before the special enrollment period ends Aug. 15. (Fierce Healthcare)

Local mask mandates make sense: U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy said Sunday that he supports individual counties reinstating mask mandates to combat local surges of the coronavirus among unvaccinated people, citing the highly contagious delta variant. (Washington Post)

Gawande’s next gig: President Joe Biden has nominated Atul Gawande to be the assistant administrator for global health at the United States Agency for International Development, aka USAID. (STAT)

MULTI-MEDIA

GOP Governor combats hesitancy one constituent at a time

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas is traveling around his state trying to convince constituents—face-to-face—to get vaccinated. He’s not relying on his own authority; he’s facilitating conversations among community members. (NPR; GTMRx Institute report)

MARKETVOICES...QUOTES WORTH READING

“I’m not pleased that we have to go back to using the masks in this manner, but right now it’s going to save lives and that’s what most important.”—Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Hilda Solis, quoted in the Washington Post