The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Health care
impact of the virus was only felt in the last couple of weeks of March.
The current quarter is expected to be much worse. The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the GDP will plunge 40%. That would be four times the largest drop on quarterly GDP records that go back to 1947.
Even so, health care researchers expect hospitals, doctor’s offices and surgery centers to rebound gradually. But they’re not sure yet how much patient volume will return.
People who have lost jobs and insurance coverage may not make doctor visits unless they absolutely have to.
The Kaiser Family Foundation recently estimated that nearly 27 million people — or about 8 percent of the U.S. population — could have become uninsured at least temporarily between March and early May due to the loss of employer-sponsored insurance.
It also may take a while for some patients to become confident that a hospital or doctor’s office is safe enough to visit without catching COVID-19.
“People are just afraid to go to any medical setting right now,” Antos said, noting that the economy also could face another setback if infection rates spike again.
In Texas, Dr. Desai has pulled chairs out of his waiting rooms to increase social distancing for patients and staff. He’s also asking other patients to wait in their cars until the exam room has been sanitized.
The dermatologist got some government assistance in the first round of payroll protection loans, and that will help him for a few more weeks.
But he’s not expecting a quick rebound. It’s hard to rebuild patient volume when only two people can be in the waiting room at the same time.
“After another month I honestly have no clue whether we will be able to remain open,” he said.