Planning for the Post-COVID Syndrome: How Payers Can Mitigate Long-Term Complications of the Pandemic

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, payers across the USA have stepped up to alleviate patients' financial burden by waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment. However, there has been no substantive discussion of potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on patient health or their financial and policy implications. After recovery, patients remain at risk for lung disease, heart disease, frailty, and mental health disorders. There may also be long-term sequelae of adverse events that develop in the course of COVID-19 and its treatment. These complications are likely to place additional medical, psychological, and economic burdens on all patients, with lower-income individuals, the uninsured and underinsured, and individuals experiencing homelessness being most vulnerable. Thus, there needs to be a comprehensive plan for preventing and managing post-COVID-19 complications to quell their clinical, economic, and public health consequences and to support patients experiencing delayed morbidity and disability as a result.

A multi-centre, cross-sectional study on coronavirus disease 2019 in Bangladesh: clinical epidemiology and short-term outcomes in recovered individuals

“…Although retrieved from a basic questionnaire, the results obtained from this study are statistically significant. Our findings are consistent with data obtained from similar studies in other countries [ 43 , 44 ]. In this study, no significant relationship between blood group and post-COVID-19 short-term outcome was found.…”

Czy ozdrowieńcy COVID-19 to przyszli pacjenci psychiatrów i psychologów? Szybki przegląd literatury naukowej

“…Upośledzenie zdrowia psychicznego, w tym objawy depresji, lęku i zaburzeń stresu pourazowy (PTSD), są powszechnie zgłaszane przez osoby, które przeżyły krytyczną chorobę (odpowiednio u 30%, 32% i 20%), utrzymujących się przez ponad 1 rok. Można się spodziewać, że przeżycie COVID-19 może spowodować problemy związane z PICS [37] Autorzy zwracają uwagę na ryzyko występowania u osób ocalałych takich chorób, jak: choroby płuc, choroby serca, osłabienie i zaburzenia zdrowia psychicznego. Postulują wprowadzenie kompleksowego planu zapobieganie i leczenie powikłań po COVID-19 [38] Artykuł podnosi temat wpływu COVID-19 na obniżenie sprawności mózgu, która stać może za występowaniem uporczywych objawów zaburzeń psychicznych u osób ocalonych, w tym zespołu psychicznego zmęczenia.…”

American Indian/Alaska Native community infrastructure limitations amid the COVID-19 threat

“…It has been reported that long-term health complications and sequelae are common with COVID-19 infection among those with medical and psychological problems. [45] The economic burden related to COVID complications and disability are anticipated to be high. Addressing the known infrastructure and socio-cultural issues is a significant way to address the short-and long-term consequences of COVID-19.…”