Covid 19 Struggle: Southern California

[Davy J]

Originally Posted by Thumbs Up

Trolling?

You have to understand, some people are sitting in their bedroom, in Toronto, in their undies. They don't participate in actual threads about cruising, or boat related topics, or equipment, or provisioning, but seem to be experts in this forum only.........

Mod's should just delete this sub-forum. Some people would actually have to find something to do.

[GordMay]

Compared with other industries, healthcare margins typically have been very thin. Even before COVID-19, a number of U.S. hospitals struggled with negative margins. In other words, they were losing money on operations. In fact the median hospital margin was a very modest 3.5%.

In the first three months after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the typical U.S. hospital lost half its emergency visit volume, 70% of its surgical volume and 30% of its inpatient admissions. According to the American Hospital Association, the pandemic could end up causing $320 billion in hospital revenues to disappear in calendar year 2020. And two-thirds of hospital financial executives responding to a May 2020 Guidehouse/HFMA survey said they expect a 15% shortfall in annual revenues, with almost one-fifth of executives projecting a shortfall of 30% or more.

Making matters more challenging, many hospitals say they are currently spending big sums to treat patients, and keep their staff safe, during the pandemic. There’s some reimbursement revenue associated with Covid-19 patients, but it’s typically not on par with what they typically make from elective procedures.

Some of this revenue reduction, and cost escallation was partially offset by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which together provide $175 billion in emergency funding for US hospitals, and other health care organizations.

So, while hospitals are struggling financially, health insurers are seeing a bump in profits. As people delay elective surgeries and avoid preventative care, during the pandemic, declines in spending have more than offset the added costs of paying for COVID-19 care.


For your reading enjoyment, and edification:

“Hospitals and Health Systems Continue to Face Unprecedented Financial Challenges due to COVID-19"
➥ https://www.aha.org/system/files/med...act-report.pdf

“The Effect of COVID-19 on Hospital Financial Health”
➥ https://www.aha.org/system/files/med...alth_FINAL.pdf


"The Financial Impact of COVID-19 on California Hospitals”
➥ https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uplo...AHospitals.pdf

“Hospitals Forecast Declining Revenues and Elective Procedure Volumes, Telehealth Adoption Struggles due to COVID-19"
➥ https://guidehouse.com/news/healthca...ining-revenues

“Non-Emergent, Elective Medical Services, and Treatment Recommendations”
➥ https://www.cms.gov/files/document/c...mendations.pdf

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

The distinction is apparent. As it can’t be explained by population density, testing availability, climate or geography, the only other variable is how the situation is being managed or mismanaged.

There are MANY other variables. MANY. Many of those, we don't even know about.

How about metrics like number of travelers arriving, number transiting, number and distribution of major airports. # business travelers and crew arriving/transiting and so on

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Davy J

You have to understand, some people are sitting in their bedroom, in Toronto, in their undies. They don't participate in actual threads about cruising, or boat related topics, or equipment, or provisioning, but seem to be experts in this forum only.

Wrong on all but one count. Not that you checked, or anything. You're here, because...?

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

There are MANY other variables. MANY. Many of those, we don't even know about.

How about metrics like number of travelers arriving, number transiting, number and distribution of major airports. # business travelers and crew arriving/transiting and so on

How hard is it to look beyond the obvious?

I think we both know each has multiple international travel hubs and this time of year particularly, only one accounts for the most snowbird travel as well as growth of new residents. Such variables seem only to support my original assessment about the reason for the problem California currently ‘enjoys’.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

I understand the financial drive behind the hospitals they are hurting also because pretty much everything else they do is shut down or reduced. Covid related payments are the one bright spot on the balance sheet.

If you choose not to believe that...again...that's your choice and I can't force you to believe the truth.

I'm not doubting that there's not government compensation for COVID patients. But I do question the simplistic spin that's been put on it - eg that hospitals are all bending the rules and the numbers are grossly exaggerated because of this. Or your sister's apparent suggestion that hospitals are deliberately letting themselves get overcrowded and not pushing patients to alternative centers for the same reason. I think it's reasonable to expect more proof before believing it.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

I'm not doubting that there's not government compensation for COVID patients. But I do question the simplistic spin that's been put on it - eg that hospitals are all bending the rules.

Who said they are bending the rules? There is no rule that these patients have to be moved, so hospitals are looking at the dollars and opting to keep as much as possible.

The fact that the political/media take on them being overwhelmed supports their future requests for more bail out money is icing on the cake.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Who said they are bending the rules? There is no rule that these patients have to be moved, so hospitals are looking at the dollars and opting to keep as much as possible.

The fact that the political/media take on them being overwhelmed supports their future requests for more bail out money is icing on the cake.

So...looking at CA... this is all BS then?

Medical care suffers across L.A. County — even basic services outside COVID-19 wards

[Capn Jimbo]

Public Health Update:

I am sorry to report that the new variant is spreading and has now been discovered in several states. Like the original Euro strain, it too will spread - but MUCH faster, and this at a time of widespread failure in the US as a whole, particularly considering our current breakdown of democracy and delay in needed leadership.



As most know the UK is out of control. The US is soon to follow due to the continuing failure of leadership and political chaos. Sweden is now exploding with a near straight up increase which will only continue; vaccination has barely begun and is too late.

Yet the countries that took Covid seriously and early, and responded/performed aggressively and strongly are doing relatively quite well.





In the next update I'll include states where the variant has appeared. For now California is out of control and health care has broken down. Please note that Florida is likely next: note the exponential increase of new deaths, which will only accelerate.

The US failed from the beginning, but may belatedly attempt to recover with the new administration. It will be a real race between a wartime effort to vaccinate and TTQ - and with the new variant.

CJ
Public Health, 30 years

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by Capn Jimbo

Public Health Update:

I am sorry to report that the new variant is spreading and has now been discovered in several states. Like the original Euro strain, it too will spread - but MUCH faster, and this at a time of widespread failure in the US as a whole, particularly considering our current breakdown of democracy and delay in needed leadership.



As most know the UK is out of control. The US is soon to follow due to the continuing failure of leadership and political chaos. Sweden is now exploding with a near straight up increase which will only continue; vaccination has barely begun and is too late.

Yet the countries that took Covid seriously and early, and responded/performed aggressively and strongly are doing relatively quite well.





In the next update I'll include states where the variant has appeared. For now California is out of control and health care has broken down. Please note that Florida is likely next: note the exponential increase of new deaths, which will only accelerate.

The US failed from the beginning, but may belatedly attempt to recover with the new administration. It will be a real race between a wartime effort to vaccinate and TTQ - and with the new variant.

CJ
Public Health, 30 years

Political spin on Covid is so adorable. And so disingenuous

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Political spin on Covid is so adorable. And so disingenuous

Please explain.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Political spin on Covid is so adorable. And so disingenuous

Where’s the political spin , he’s saying it like it is. You can hardly argue the US’s response has been in any metric , good !

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Where’s the political spin , he’s saying it like it is...

Without identifying the source of the presented data, we have no (easy) way of determining it's validity/accuracy.
BTW: I'm not opining that these graphs are wrong, or misleading - just that it's difficult to tell.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Wrong on all but one count. Not that you checked, or anything. You're here, because...?

I presume you must be on Holiday then

[UFO]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Where’s the political spin , he’s saying it like it is. You can hardly argue the US’s response has been in any metric , good !

What would you say about the UK response?