Master the upcoming ICD-10 code and IPPS changes! Prepare your team for the upcoming changes taking effect on October 1. Discover the benefits of IPPSPalooza and how it can drive your success. Click here >

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution for Older Adults in Crisis

Older adults continue to be at risk during the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution has prompted headaches across the country. However, older adults have been especially challenged with access; those who “have less” and are dealing with economic and/or health limitations, as well as family and peer support, are struggling. For those who have experienced historical and other types of trauma, these disparities will further impact their functioning, morbidity, and mortality.

A new issue brief by the Kaiser Family Foundation details how severe the issue is.

As one of the major populations living amid factors associated with the social determinants of health (SDoH), adults over 65 have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. This age group has comprised 75 percent of all COVID-19 deaths for each month since the pandemic hit its initial peak last spring; mortality rates reached 82 percent of the population in May 2020. Since then, other concerning numbers have emerged:

  • Hospitalization rates for adults ages 65 to 74 are over 2.5 times higher than those of the 40-49 age group.
  • The difference in mortality rates is vast:
  • Death rates for adults 65 to 74 are over 9.5 times higher than for adults ages 40-49.
  • For individuals 65 and older, the incidence of hospitalizations and deaths increases with age. The rate of hospitalizations is more than 2.5 times higher and deaths 7.4 times higher among those 85 and older, compared to those 65-74.

Disparities in vaccine allocation and distribution for older adults also continues:

  • In theory, persons over 75 should be prioritized for the vaccine, listed in group 1a.
  • However, for states reporting COVID-19 vaccinations by age, the majority of older adults have not yet received their first dose.
    • This range varies, from 10 percent of older adults in Pennsylvania to 34 percent in West Virginia.
  • Nine states reported vaccinating at least 20 percent of their 65-and-older population: 
    • West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Delaware, Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia.
  • Older adults account for the majority of people vaccinated in less than half of states
  • In 23 states reporting vaccine data by race, Blacks and Latinx are being vaccinated at a far lower rate than whites. Many also lack the necessary Internet access or digital devices to sign up for the vaccine on available portals.
    • A recent survey from the University of Michigan revealed close to 50 percent of Black seniors and 53 percent of Latinx seniors lack online patient portals with their healthcare providers, compared with 39 percent of white elders.

In a number of states, residents in the priority group continue to wait their turn, including my home state of Virginia. As few as 13,000 doses were available for a waiting list of over 180,000 residents last week. While the state’s new vaccine dashboard shows improvement this week, from rising vaccine availability to increased use of neighborhood and community health clinics in the vaccination effort, more must be done to promote vaccine access and distribution, especially for those eligible on priority lists.

Our Monitor Mondays Listeners Survey asked our listeners, how do you rate vaccine distribution in your state? The results spoke volumes about the realities faced by far too many individuals and can be viewed here.

Programming Note: Listen to Ellen Fink-Samnick’s live reporting on the social determinants of health on Monitor Mondays, 10 a.m. Eastern.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Print

Ellen Fink-Samnick, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CRP

Ellen Fink-Samnick is an award-winning healthcare industry expert. She is the esteemed author of books, articles, white papers, and knowledge products. A subject matter expert on the Social Determinants of Health, her latest books, The Essential Guide to Interprofessional Ethics for Healthcare Case Management and Social Determinants of Health: Case Management’s Next Frontier (with foreword by Dr. Ronald Hirsch), are published through HCPro. She is a panelist on Monitor Mondays, frequent contributor to Talk Ten Tuesdays, and member of the RACmonitor Editorial Board.

Related Stories

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

Mastering the Two-Midnight Rule: Keys to Navigating Short-Stay Admissions with Confidence

Mastering the Two-Midnight Rule: Keys to Navigating Short-Stay Admissions with Confidence

The CMS Two-Midnight Rule and short-stay audits are here to stay, impacting inpatient and outpatient admissions, ASC procedures, and Medicare Parts C & D. New for 2024, the Two-Midnight Rule applies to Medicare Advantage patients, requiring differentiation between Medicare plans affecting Case Managers, Utilization Review, and operational processes and knowledge of a vital distinction between these patients that influences post-discharge medical reviews and compliance risk. Join Michael G. Calahan for a comprehensive webcast covering federal laws for all admission processes. Gain the knowledge needed to navigate audits effectively and optimize patient access points, personnel, and compliance strategies. Learn Two-Midnight Rule essentials, Medicare Advantage implications, and compliance best practices. Discover operational insights for short-stay admissions, outpatient observation, and the ever-changing Inpatient-Only Listing.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
September 19, 2023
Secondary Diagnosis Coding: A Deep Dive into Guidelines and Best Practices

Secondary Diagnosis Coding: A Deep Dive into Guidelines and Best Practices

Explore comprehensive guidelines and best practices for secondary diagnosis coding in our illuminating webcast. Delve into the intricacies of accurately assigning secondary diagnosis codes to ensure precise medical documentation. Learn how to navigate complex scenarios and adhere to coding regulations while enhancing coding proficiency. Our expert-led webcast covers essential insights, including documentation requirements, sequencing strategies, and industry updates. Elevate your coding skills and stay current with the latest coding advancements so you can determine the correct DRG assignment to optimize reimbursement, support medical decision-making, and maintain compliance.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
September 20, 2023
Principal Diagnosis Coding: Mastering Selection and Sequencing

Principal Diagnosis Coding: Mastering Selection and Sequencing

Enhance your inpatient coding precision and revenue with Principal Diagnosis Coding: Mastering Selection and Sequencing. Join our expert-led webcast to conquer the challenges of principal diagnosis selection and sequencing. We’ll decode the intricacies of ICD-10-CM guidelines, equipping you with a clear grasp of the rules and the official UHDDS principal diagnosis definition. Uncover the crucial role of coding conventions, master the sequencing of related conditions, and confidently tackle cases with equally valid principal diagnoses.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
September 14, 2023
2024 IPPS Summit: Final Rule Update with Expert Insights and Analysis

2024 IPPS Summit: Final Rule Update with Expert Insights and Analysis

Only ICD10monitor delivers what you need: updates on must-know changes associated with the FY24 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule, including new ICD-10-CM/PCS codes, plus insights, analysis and answers to questions from the country’s most respected subject matter experts.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
2024 IPPS Summit Day 3: MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

2024 IPPS Summit Day 3: MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

This third session in our 2024 IPPS Summit will feature a review of FY24 changes to the MS-DRG methodology and new technology add-on payments (NTAPs), presented by senior healthcare consultant Laurie Johnson, with bonus insights and analysis from two acclaimed subject matter experts

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
August 17, 2023

Trending News