Finance

Summary

This section summarizes key considerations of how healthcare is financed in the United States (U.S.), how COVID-19 has impacted this funding, and recommendations of what measures might be taken to improve financial resiliency moving forward.

The goal of this sector is to discuss the funding mechanism needed relative to each sector to control the spread of COVID-19 and facilitate the re-opening of the economy, including hospitals and health systems, insurers, individual citizens, public health systems, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Recommendations

• Hospitals and healthcare systems should be a high priority for federal funding to increase the workforce and resource capacity to adequately respond to COVID-19 population health needs.
• Private insurance should be a low-priority for federal funding as they should maintain proactive initiatives and reduce cost-sharing for individuals.
• Individuals should be a high priority for federal funding to offset economic repercussions of COVID-19 or possible loss of insurance coverage due to unemployment or furlough.
• Public Health should be a high priority for federal funding to initiate effective testing and surveillance as this will be vital in re-opening the economy and to manage existing and future pandemics.
• Industry should be a medium-priority for federal-funding because while they are aiding in medical resources and distribution, they do not represent frontline workers.
• City & State governments should be a medium-priority for federal funding to develop more agency and expertise in addressing crises in the future.
• Emergency Management should be a high priority for federal funding as they are dependent on federal funds for operability in aiding and management of disease control and spread.

Authors