News: CMS releases COVID-19 data, 34% of diagnosed beneficiaries hospitalized

CMS has released preliminary COVID-19 data derived from Medicare claims. The data shows a high overview picture of the impact of COVID-19 specifically on the Medicare population. The data confirms that seniors and those with underlying health conditions are at a higher risk of severe illness than younger, healthier individuals.

Between the start of January and beginning of May, more than 325,000 Medicare beneficiaries were diagnosed with COVID-19, translating to 518 cases per 100,000 beneficiaries. Almost 110,000 of those diagnosed were hospitalized, according to CMS. This means that just under 34% of Medicare beneficiaries who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were also hospitalized.

Of those who were hospitalized, the five most common chronic conditions, according to CMS, were:

• Hypertension (79%)
• Hyperlipidemia (60%)
• Chronic kidney disease (50%)
• Anemia (50%)
• Diabetes (50%)

The data breaks down Medicare beneficiaries’ COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations by state, race/ethnicity, dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid, age, gender, and urban/rural areas. According to the data, those at a lower socio-economic position and those from racial/ethnic minority groups have experienced worse outcomes over the course of the pandemic.

“In presenting stark socio-economic and racial/ethnic disparities, the data makes the transition from a fee-for-service system to a value-based one that fosters accountability for outcomes more urgent than ever,” according to the CMS blog.

Editor’s note: The CMS blog release can be found here. To read ACDIS’ coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.