The Latest: New Poll Findings on the Economic Impact of COVID-19

Plus, an influx of applicants could strain the Medicaid system, and KFF experts discuss considerations for expanded use of contact tracing.

April 3, 2020 KFF Health Tracking Poll - Early April 2020: The Impact Of Coronavirus On Life In America   With coronavirus cases rising and businesses shutting down, four in 10 (39%) U.S. residents say they already have lost a job or income due to the crisis, the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. This includes most part-time workers (54%), as well as nearly half of parents with children under age 18 (47%) and those paid hourly or by the job (45%). A large majority (82%) also report that they are sheltering-in-place and not leaving their homes except for essential needs, and nearly everyone (92%) now reports some kind of social distancing – up from 59% two weeks ago. (News Release, Poll Findings) Medicaid Nearing 'Eye Of The Storm' As Newly Unemployed Look For Coverage   As the coronavirus roils the economy and throws millions of Americans out of work, Medicaid is emerging as a default insurance plan for many of the newly unemployed. That could produce unprecedented strains on the vital health insurance program, according to state officials and policy researchers. (KHN, USA Today) Is Contact Tracing Getting Enough Attention in U.S. Coronavirus Response?   There is a consensus forming among public health experts about the kinds of capabilities that the U.S. needs to build up and apply in order for communities to successfully combat COVID-19 and transition from our current social distancing/sheltering-in-place moment to something resembling normal daily life. One of these is contact tracing, which involves identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to prevent onward transmission. In their latest post on KFF's Coronavirus Policy Watch blog, Jen Kates and Josh Michaud discuss considerations for expanding contact tracing in the U.S. (Blog Post) Trump Touted Abbott's Quick COVID-19 Test. HHS Document Shows Only 5,500 Are On Way For Entire U.S.   A coronavirus test made by Abbott Laboratories and introduced with considerable fanfare by President Trump this week is giving state and local health officials very little added capacity to perform speedy tests needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic. A document circulated among officials at HHS and FEMA this week shows that state and local public health labs were set to receive a total of only 5,500 coronavirus tests from the giant manufacturer of medical devices, diagnostics and drugs, according to emails obtained by KHN. (KHN, Daily Beast) Question of the Week Last week, we asked readers which state is only reporting positive COVID-19 test results from private labs. 24% of readers correctly identified Maryland; the state has since changed its reporting guidelines to include negative test results. Think you've stayed up-to-date on this week's new releases from KFF, KHN, California Healthline, and the KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report? Test your knowledge with the following question:  As of April 3, how many states have issued stay-at-home orders? 27 39 45  See how many readers answered this week's question correctly in next Friday's edition of The Latest. Special Coverage: COVID-19 Coronavirus The latest news and analysis on the coronavirus outbreak. You can find a complete list of recent releases on KFF.org and KHN.org. Medicaid Nearing 'Eye Of The Storm' As Newly Unemployed Look For Coverage (KHN, USA Today) Trump Touted Abbott's Quick COVID-19 Test. HHS Document Shows Only 5,500 Are On Way For Entire U.S. (KHN, Daily Beast) Pandemic-Stricken Cities Have Empty Hospitals, But Reopening Them Is Difficult (KHN) California Hospitals Face Surge With Proven Fixes And Some Hail Marys (KHN) As The Country Disinfects, Diabetes Patients Can't Find Rubbing Alcohol (KHN, USA Today) KHN's 'What The Health?': All Coronavirus All The Time (KHN) Under Pressure, Florida Governor Finally Orders Residents To Stay Home (KHN) Fox News' Jesse Watters Said Travel Bans 'More Critical In Saving Lives' Than COVID Testing. He's Wrong. (KHN) Listen: COVID-19 Stresses Rural Hospitals Even Before They Have A Single Case (KHN) Listen: Why It Takes So Long To Get COVID-19 Test Results (KHN) Latest news summaries from the KHN Morning Briefing KFF Health Tracking Poll - Early April 2020: The Impact Of Coronavirus On Life In America (News Release, Poll Findings) Is Contact Tracing Getting Enough Attention in U.S. Coronavirus Response? (Blog Post) COVID-19: Expected Implications for Medicaid and State Budgets (Blog Post) Problems Getting Care Due to Cost or Paying Medical Bills Among Medicare Beneficiaries (Issue Brief) Updated: State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus (Issue Brief) Updated: COVID-19 Coronavirus Tracker – Updated as of April 3, 2020 (Interactive) More Than 1M COVID-19 Cases And More Than 51K Deaths Have Been Reported Worldwide; WHO Plans Serology Study To Determine Extent Of Pandemic (KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report) Data and Analysis The latest in health policy data and analysis from KFF. Updated: Long-Term Trends in Employer-Based Coverage (Issue Brief)  Updated: KFF Health Tracking Poll: The Public's Views on the ACA (Interactive) Updated: Public Opinion on Single-Payer, National Health Plans, and Expanding Access to Medicare Coverage (Slideshow) Latest news summaries from the KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report The Buzz See what's driving health policy conversation on social media. Follow KFF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates and perspectives. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. kff.org  |  khn.org Did someone forward this to you? Sign up for email updates. This email was sent to stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Or, permanently unsubscribe from all future emails.  If you need help or have questions, please send an email to subscriptions@kff.org. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored. Kaiser Family Foundation & Kaiser Health News 185 Berry Street Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94107