On January 15, 2021, CMS released a monthly update of data that provides a snapshot of the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicare population. The updated data show over 1.9 million COVID-19 cases among the Medicare population and over 493,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. The updated snapshot covers the period from January 1 to November 21, 2020. It is based on Medicare Fee-for-Service claims and Medicare Advantage encounter data CMS received by December 18, 2020. To view the updated snapshot visit, go to Preliminary Medicare COVID-19 Data Snapshot.
CMS also released updated information products on Identification of Chronic Conditions among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with data for 2017 and 2018. The suite of chronic conditions information products present data on prevalence, utilization of select Medicare services, and Medicare spending.
Additionally, CMS released new data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 supplement to the MCBS was administered during the fall of 2020 and asked Medicare beneficiaries about the impacts of the pandemic on their daily life, well-being, and the health care services they receive. In addition, beneficiaries were asked about their perceptions of the severity of the pandemic, and their willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To view an infographic highlighting results of the MCBS COVID-19 supplement, located here. A public use file detailing the survey results is located here.
Lastly, CMS released an update to the Medicare Part D Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool and the Medicaid Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool with data for 2018. The Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tools are interactive, web-based visualization resources that present geographic comparisons of opioid prescribing rates. The Medicare Part D Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool presents opioid prescribing rates at the state, county, and ZIP code levels and the Medicaid Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool presents opioid prescribing rates at the state level. In both the Medicare Part D and Medicaid programs, overall opioid prescribing rates continue to decrease. In Medicare Part D, the opioid prescribing rate has decreased from 5.1% in 2017 to 4.7% in 2018. In the Medicaid program, the opioid prescribing rate decreased from 4.6% in 2017 to 3.7% in 2018.
The Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tools are available here.