Primary Care & COVID-19: Week 2 Survey

The percentage of respondents reporting “severe impact” on their practices doubled since last week. Nearly half (49%) reported that their practice was experiencing “severe impact” (the highest possible response) due to the current status of COVID-19, up from 21% the week before. Another 27% report “close to severe” impact. 

The biggest stressors on practices are now: 1) reduced well/chronic visits and 2) staffing shortages due to staff illness/self-quarantine .  

• Nearly 90% of respondents report that their practice has had to limit well/chronic visits; though fewer (7%) now report sick visit availability as a problem. 

• Respondents are increasingly reporting clinician/staff absences due to sickness/self-quarantine as a stressor on their practices: 46% report clinicians out; 45% report nursing staff out; and 30% report front desk staff out. Each of these percentages are double or more from absences reported in last week’s survey. 

As telehealth takes a more prominent role, respondents report high patient amenability to virtual services but much less certainty on how those services will be paid for. 

• 83% of respondents say patients are accepting of telehealth visits, and nearly half of respondents plan to continue using telehealth after the COVID crisis is controlled. 

• Payment for telehealth varies: 62% report that these services are reimbursable by insurance; 52% report that they are reimbursable by Medicaid. 

• A third of respondents do not know how their telehealth services will be paid for. 

Still, uptake of virtual services appeared to be slow as of the close of the week 2 survey: 

• 70% of respondents work at practices with NO e-visits, and 60% work at practices with NO use of video visits.  

• Over a third work at practices with NO patient portal/secure messaging. 

Only 46% of respondents reported that they believe the majority (60% or more) of their office visits/contacts are reimbursable.   

Voices from the Primary Care Frontlines

235 respondents in week 2 included open text comments.

Half of the comments highlighted the lack of vital supplies for clinicians as a serious concern.

“We stopped doing patient visits last Monday due to lack of PPE [personal protective equipment].” (Oregon)

“Not enough protective equipment. Front line doctors are going to die because we are being sent out to fight something we cannot see, we cannot treat, & we cannot test for without the PPE necessary to protect ourselves.” (Virginia)

Many other comments described financial strain on practices that has, or will, lead to closures.

“We are [trying] to do as much telehealth as possible to limit exposure with no idea how much or if we will get paid.  Our business has dropped off immensely and we are giving away a lot of free care but are trying to remedy that with technology. I am very worried about cash flow for our small private practice.” (Colorado)

"Extreme financial strain that will impact our survival and ability to care for ANY patients for ANY reason.  Nothing new, but primary care needs more resources.” (North Carolina)

"Our biggest issue right now is cash flow. Visits have [plummeted] and we are trying to avoid laying off experienced staff. We are projecting that physician owners will have zero income this year at best and may have to put money back into the practice in order to keep it viable if social distancing continues for more than 2 months.” (New York)

A few comments pointed to how practices are adapting to the evolving landscape, but with challenges:

“Our group managed to set up parking lot COVID-19 tests this week after learning we could get supplies from a commercial lab. We also started telehealth visits once the government pressed insurers to lessen restrictions.” (Pennsylvania)

“I want to know that I can do telemedicine visits and get reimbursed by insurance and how to do that. I have tried accessing webinars that are Full and feel very scared.” (Oregon)

“We have started respiratory clinics. Only 12 cases in the state. The calm before the storm. Not actually calm at all but limited [cases].” (West Virginia)

Responses to week 2 of the survey were collected March 20-23, 2020.

Learn more: Download the Executive Summary and the Executive Summary + Comments.