Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #76

[CSIDreamer]

I hope it was nothing serious that took you to the ER. And that your test is negative.

Yep negative.

 

[mickey2942]

I just had a nasal swab test. Less than 2 hour results in the ER. Not pleasant but not too awful. Jmo

The problem with testing that I have seen, is the cluster f of inconsistencies across various entities and agencies. I am beginning to understand the problems with data now, much better.

Health department wants someone to be tested, they send them to company X for a test. Company X says, "You have no symptoms, no test for you.". On and on, the myriad of labs and agencies involved in just a small state like Montana make things crazy. I can't imagine the complexity in an area like California.

At least here, it is local, and most folks can just get on the phone and straighten things out.

 

[weepingangel]

Hope you feel better

Yes it was negative. Honestly I had a UTI go bad on me. I did not know these symptoms were UTI. Now I know.

 

[weepingangel]

Is Facebook a citation

Please post a citation for that survival rate. Worldometers says 5% of those who have gotten it have died - and in some US States it appears to be 6%.

Where did you get the 1.5% rate? That's approximately the rate for people aged 55-70.

Not all people. People who are older have higher rates (and therefore bump that average up).

 

[ilovewings]

CMS is a diagnosis driven, flat rate payment system. The extra dollars were to assist with above and beyond additional cost.

Yes, ICU ventilator patients are usually paid at a higher rate, due to additional underlying diagnosis.

Ex...Hospital paid flat rate for stroke. Additional reimbursement for ICU, ventilator, TPN, paid with additional diagnosis of paralysis, COPD, respiratory failure, some type of diagnosis that would require ventilator.

The same would be true for Covid, with underlying diagnosis that would require ventilation.

Ventilator patients are in ICU, require highly specialized staff, experienced RNs, respiratory therapist and lots of one on one care. Lots of expensive IV pumps, monitors and more.

ICUs break even, at best, most lose money. The most profitable for hospitals is out patient services. Get you in and out, little nursing care required, bill it and the money in the bank in 7 days.

that makes sense to me!

 

[24Roses]

Iowa numbers today: As of 10:30-11:00 a.m. today, we had 2,535 (IMO) new confirmed cases for a total of 62,031 cases of which 45,897 have recovered (IMO +519). 11 (IMO) had passed away for a total of 1,091. KCRG had 128 less daily cases yesterday than what IDPH reported at 11:00 a.m. Now today's total confirmed cases and deaths both match so hopefully daily case counts will also match after today. COVID-19 cases surpass 62,000 as antigen testing numbers are added to state’s data
Iowa COVID-19 Information
* And yes this is another new daily case count high. IMO-I expect this to continue for the near future.

 

[10ofRods]

Yep negative.

That's great! And while a UTI is awful, there is a tiny sliver of silver lining: any infection will prompt your immune system to wake up and try to perform, which is a good exercise for it to have every once in a while.

One fear I have about quarantine is that I'm not getting the normal immune challenges (exposure to common colds) that I would normally get. I think any prompting for the immune system right now, while unpleasant, does gear us up for a milder course of CoVid, if we get it.

I'm sorry you had to go to the ER, though.

 

[10ofRods]

Iowa numbers today: As of 10:30-11:00 a.m. today, we had 2,535 (IMO) new confirmed cases for a total of 62,031 cases of which 45,897 have recovered (IMO +519). 11 (IMO) had passed away for a total of 1,091. KCRG had 128 less daily cases yesterday than what IDPH reported at 11:00 a.m. Now today's total confirmed cases and deaths both match so hopefully daily case counts will also match after today. COVID-19 cases surpass 62,000 as antigen testing numbers are added to state’s data
Iowa COVID-19 Information
* And yes this is another new daily case count high. IMO-I expect this to continue for the near future.

I look for your posts every day. I'm glad you explained why the new cases are so high. Still, it's worrying and you all are still dealing with the wind damage.

That's a lot of cases and a lot of deaths for Iowa.

 

[10ofRods]

Is Facebook a citation

Sure - in someone's world, I am sure it is.

The world's rate wobbles between 5 and 6%. Today it is at 5%.

Which reminds me. The question of why the rate is trending downward has many proposed explanations:

• younger people now account for more of overall cases
• treatments are better
• there's more Vitamin D in some populations in the summer
• people are going for testing if they suspect exposure
• social behavior has changed (quarantine and masks)

 

[CSIDreamer]

That's great! And while a UTI is awful, there is a tiny sliver of silver lining: any infection will prompt your immune system to wake up and try to perform, which is a good exercise for it to have every once in a while.

One fear I have about quarantine is that I'm not getting the normal immune challenges (exposure to common colds) that I would normally get. I think any prompting for the immune system right now, while unpleasant, does gear us up for a milder course of CoVid, if we get it.

I'm sorry you had to go to the ER, though.

I was in an isolation wing. It wasn't too bad. I was sick as a dog and it was quiet. So after Zofran and an IV for dehydration I got some rest.

 

[tresir2012]

I am not attacking anyone. There are numerous entities that have committed Medicare fraud, several people have posted this information.

Fraud regarding Covid? If so can you give links please?

 

[mickey2942]

Fraud regarding Covid? If so can you give links please?

COVID-19 doctor charged in multimillion-dollar health care fraud case

 

[Simply Southern]

Fraud regarding Covid? If so can you give links please?

Someone mentioned a friend's relative passed away and the hospital "ask" if they could use Covid as reason for death, to collect additional money.

I tried to explain CMS is requiring a lot of additional medical information in order to pay the higher rate. It would be hard to fake a Covid death in a hospital without all the testing, labs, xrays, etc. Hospitals aren't going to knowingly commit fraud, Someone will always know and the risk of a whistleblower suit is to great. Qui tam suits provide the whistleblower with 25% of the fine or settlement. The governments incentive to encourage employees to report.

Moo...

 

[LadyL]

Canadians could go to the polls over a weekend if election held amid COVID-19

Interesting article with some proposed changes to the Elections Act if it becomes necessary to hold an election during the pandemic.

A two-day weekend election could make it easier to social distance, plus a weekend election could make it easier to hire more workers. Other ideas include increased capacity for mail in ballots, provide single use pencils or bring your own pencil, virtual training for elections workers, changes to how voting is conducted at LTC homes and at universities, etc.

I would mail mine in for sure.

 

[Simply Southern]

COVID-19 doctor charged in multimillion-dollar health care fraud case

This will be a Qui Tam suit, since the employee recorded and worked as a witness. The employee will receive 25% of the fine or settlement for reporting.

This is how most healthcare fraud is discovered someone tells to collect the big payout.

From your article....

A cooperating witness who worked at Allure gave investigators documents and also secretly recorded conversations, according to the complaint.

The witness said Allure engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. by submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare for varicose vein treatments.

“Claims were false and fraudulent because they were for services that were unreasonable, unnecessary, or that simply did not occur as Allure reported to have occurred,” Health and Human Services Special Agent Steven Warren wrote in an affidavit attached to the criminal complaint.

 

[LadyL]

I live in London, Ontario (population 400,000) where over 54,000 university and community college students show up each September. There has been an annual "street party" the past few years for the university students that has attracted over 20,000 people. The college parties are a problem also. Our police can't even begin to control these crowds.

Our covid confirmed cases is less than 800, and has dropped to a few cases a week. We have willingly endured isolation, social distancing and masks for five months to keep this virus under control in our community. I really don't have faith that the students will abide with the province's covid regulations.

I'll let you know how my city's covid stats change. Hoping for the best, expecting the worst.

hi neighbour!

 

[ilovewings]

Children without COVID-19 symptoms may spread the virus for up to THREE weeks, study finds | Daily Mail Online

The information about Children keeps changing and evolving. This article states that children without Covid symptoms can spread the virus for three weeks-- this is not good news

 

[CSIDreamer]

Indiana, US

832 new positive cases 8/15-8/27
11 deaths 8/20-8/27
6.5% 7 day positivity rate

Our governor extended the mask mandate until September 25 I believe.

ISDH - Novel Coronavirus: Indiana COVID-19 Dashboard

 

[24Roses]

I look for your posts every day. I'm glad you explained why the new cases are so high. Still, it's worrying and you all are still dealing with the wind damage.

That's a lot of cases and a lot of deaths for Iowa.

IMO-I actually think the new cases are so high because the college students are back and are not social distancing and were out at the bars (thus the bars are now closing for a month in the counties where the major universities are and nearby. I'm going to post shortly about that and new college numbers. University of Iowa is not good.

 

[24Roses]

Iowa news today: 'Save our industry': Iowa Restaurant Association writes letter to Reynolds
Bars, restaurants file lawsuit against state after Reynolds' proclamation
UNI announces 62 total positive COVID-19 cases, new data dashboard
University of Iowa adds over 500 new COVID-19 cases since Monday
* Iowa State has not yet put out any new numbers that I have seen.