New Report Finds US Healthcare System Dramatically Impacted by the Global Pandemic

COVID-19 is wreaking havoc around the world, and its effects have profoundly affected all aspects of the United States healthcare system—from spending to outcomes to access. A report produced by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and Kaiser Family Foundation—partners in an ongoing project to assess the quality and cost of the US healthcare system—recently released key data points. First, healthcare spending in the US has decreased by 0.5% since the start of the pandemic due to the cancellation or delay of routine preventive care. Second, COVID-19 infection is now the third leading cause of death in the US behind heart disease and cancer. Third, those hit the hardest during the pandemic—Black, Native American, Hispanic, and low-income populations—will experience further disparity in their access to healthcare and health outcomes. Read more here.