COVID-19 is still a pandemic for the unvaccinated.
We may be done with COVID, but it’s not done with us. No surprise, but there’s a new variant in town.
Omicron BA.2, otherwise known as “stealth Omicron,” is the genetic offspring of Omicron. This new variant has led to a spike in cases in Europe, is disrupting China’s zero-COVID strategy, and is now the cause of COVID in ~40 percent of cases in the northeastern United States. And BA.2 isn’t the only Omicron offspring here.
Wasn’t the pandemic supposed to be over? How could this be happening now? Easy. First, COVID-19 public health measures have been relaxed or eliminated. Second, the protectiveness of the vaccines (and previous COVID infections) continues to wane over time. And third, this variant appears to be even more transmissible than the highly contagious original Omicron variant that caused a massive outbreak in cases in December and January.
Am I concerned? No, and yes. I’m not concerned for any American who is fully vaccinated and boosted. Although BA.2 is super contagious, it doesn’t appear to result in increased hospitalizations and deaths in that group. Case in point: former President Obama and 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth both recently tested positive for COVID without experiencing significant illness.
I am concerned about the relatively low vaccination rates in the United States, when compared with other developed countries around the world. Sixty-five percent of Americans are fully vaccinated. The booster rate is only 29 percent. Neither are good enough.
COVID-19 is still a pandemic for the unvaccinated. The data is clear. The unvaccinated comprise the vast majority of hospitalizations and COVID deaths. We tend to forget that nearly a thousand Americans still die daily from this infectious disease – numbers that would be markedly reduced with improved vaccination rates. It’s almost inconceivable that we will surpass one million COVID deaths in April. Have we become numb to this daily carnage?
These are some of the questions I’m getting from my vaccinated patients:
COVID-19 will become endemic, meaning it will never completely go away. As I’ve stated recently, just like with the flu, annual booster shots may become a reality.
My recommendations are as follows:
Do not fear BA.2. COVID-19 isn’t going to go away, but we can end the pandemic for everyone if we can improve our vaccination rates.
I receive a lot of newsletters every morning to help me stay abreast of what is happening in the healthcare industry. A troubling recent trend
EDITOR’S NOTE Day 3 of the federal shutdown continues. This article by Mark Spivey is part of a special section today published by RACmonitor and
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Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s first quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Sepsis sequencing continues to challenge even experienced coding and CDI professionals, with evolving guidelines, documentation gaps, and payer scrutiny driving denials and data inconsistencies. In this webcast, Payal Sinha, MBA, RHIA, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS-O, CRC, CRCR, provides clear guideline-based strategies to accurately code sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock, assign POA indicators, clarify the relationship between infection and organ dysfunction, and align documentation across teams. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen audit defensibility, improve first-pass accuracy, support appeal success, reduce denials, and ensure accurate quality reporting, empowering organizations to achieve consistent, compliant sepsis coding outcomes.
Expert presenters Kathy Pride, RHIT, CPC, CCS-P, CPMA, and Brandi Russell, RHIA, CCS, COC, CPMA, break down complex fracture care coding rules, walk through correct modifier application (-25, -57, 54, 55), and clarify sequencing for initial and subsequent encounters. Attendees will gain the practical knowledge needed to submit clean claims, ensure compliance, and stay one step ahead of payer audits in 2026.
Accurately determining the principal diagnosis is critical for compliant billing, appropriate reimbursement, and valid quality reporting — yet it remains one of the most subjective and error-prone areas in inpatient coding. In this expert-led session, Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCDS, CDIP, demystifies the complexities of principal diagnosis assignment, bridging the gap between coding rules and clinical reality. Learn how to strengthen your organization’s coding accuracy, reduce denials, and ensure your documentation supports true medical necessity.
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In this timely session, Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, CPEDC, COPC, breaks down the complexities of Medical Decision Making (MDM) documentation so providers can confidently capture the true complexity of their care. Attendees will learn practical, efficient strategies to ensure documentation aligns with current E/M guidelines, supports accurate coding, and reduces audit risk, all without adding to charting time.
Join Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM for The PEPPER Returns – Risk and Opportunity at Your Fingertips, a practical webcast that demystifies the PEPPER and shows you how to turn complex claims data into actionable insights. Dr. Hirsch will explain how to interpret key measures, identify compliance risks, uncover missed revenue opportunities, and understand new updates in the PEPPER, all to help your organization stay ahead of audits and use this powerful data proactively.
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