Treating COVID-19 Patients Exceeds Cost Forecast

While some COVID-19 disease patient characteristics are widespread, there is not a singular profile.

A new report found throughout the USA, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure were found the most common comorbidity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

These kidney conditions accounted for 13 percent of all such patients in the period January-May 2020.

All regions except one resembled the nation in having type 2 diabetes as the second most common comorbidity.

Additionally, FAIR Health’s latest COVID-19 study published on July 14, 2020, Key Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients: Profiles Based on Analysis of Private Healthcare Claims, disclosed the costs generated when treating COVID-19 patients.

This FAIR Health study uses the nation’s largest repository of private healthcare claims to illuminate some of the key characteristics of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, from the period January-May 2020. Among the other findings:

• The median charge amount for hospitalization of a COVID-19 patient ranged from $34,662 for the 23-30 age group to $45,683 for the 51-60 age group.
• The West was the region with the widest range of costs for COVID-19 hospitalizations. There, median charge amounts ranged from $21,407 for the 19-22 age group to $93,459 for the over 70 age group.

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated in a related press statement, “Profiles of COVID-19 patients have many potential applications, including determining risk factors, influencing treatment protocols, setting priorities for eventual vaccination distribution, inspiring further research, and planning and budgeting for use of healthcare resources.” 

“FAIR Health presents this report to help support that broad range of applications by stakeholders throughout the healthcare sector.”

FAIR Health’s first brief was published on March 23, 2020, and examined projected US costs for COVID-19 patients requiring inpatient stays. This report found the following highlights:

On the basis of revenue codes, the total costs for all hospitalized COVID-19 patients range from a low of $362 billion in charges and $139 billion in estimated allowed amounts to a high of $1.449 trillion in charges and $558 billion in estimated allowed amounts, depending on the incidence rate of the infection in the US population.

This is based on FAIR Health data regarding charges and allowed amounts for similar conditions, and published projections indicating that from 66 million to 198 million Americans may become infected with the novel SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease.

And, that from 4.9 million to 19.8 million of these infected individuals may require inpatient stays.

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization.

CoronavirusToday publishes COVID-19 disease outbreak news.