The State Data Resource Center’s Recommendations to Support Vaccine Equity

by Econometrica, Inc. | Apr 27, 2021 | Econometrica Blog

As of April 26, 29 percent of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccines are now available to all U.S. adults, and 2.6 million doses are being administered in the United States every day. As vaccination rates continue to increase, it is important that vaccine distribution is monitored to ensure that vulnerable populations are reached. Ensuring equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine—recognized as a national priority by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) —requires that data are available and appropriately used to evaluate socioeconomic and demographic vaccine distribution trends.

Earlier this month, the State Data Resource Center (SDRC) released information to support states in identifying COVID-19 vaccination Medicare claims among their dually eligible beneficiaries. SDRC was established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2011 to help states obtain dually eligible beneficiary data. Econometrica supports CMS in providing resources to states to assist in requesting and using Medicare data files for care coordination and program integrity purposes.

The COVID-19 vaccine information was posted as an announcement on the SDRC website, developed and operated by Econometrica, and includes a recommended process for identifying COVID-19 vaccine claims in both the Coordination of Benefits Agreement (eCOBA) file and the monthly Parts A and B dataset. In both files, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes are used to identify COVID-19 vaccine claims. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson each have their own assigned HCPCS codes with additional vaccine administration codes that specify whether the claim was the individual’s first or second dose.

In addition to identifying COVID-19 vaccine claims and ensuring each beneficiary received the appropriate number of doses, SDRC recommends that states link these claims to the beneficiary’s demographic information. In doing so, disparities in vaccine uptake across race/ethnicity, disability status, or geography can be evaluated and addressed.

The SDRC announcement highlights an important opportunity for state Medicaid agencies. Analyses, made possible through the use of SDRC data and the SDRC support team, can help to inform policy. By identifying any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic disparities in access to COVID-19 vaccines, state policymakers can shift their distribution plans to ensure vaccines are available to vulnerable, dually eligible beneficiaries.

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Vaccines are now available to all U.S. adults, and 2.6 million doses are being administered in the United States every day.

CMS Updates Data Snapshot Showing COVID’s Impact on Beneficiaries

by Econometrica, Inc. | Apr 1, 2021 | Econometrica Blog

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released an updated data snapshot detailing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiaries. Among the findings:

Medicare fee-for-service spending associated with COVID hospitalizations rose to $10.3 billion.
The rate of cases in rural areas (4,271 per 100,000) outpaced those in urban areas (4,151 per 100,000) for the first time.
The pandemic continues to hit certain populations harder than others, including American Indian/Alaska Native beneficiaries (2,393 per 100,000), African-American beneficiaries (1,937 per 100,000), and Hispanic beneficiaries (1,617 per 100,000).

“Although the snapshot data suggests COVID-19 continues to impact certain populations disproportionately, it also points to the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and other opportunities for prevention and treatment in disadvantaged groups.”

The snapshot includes data for services provided from January 1, 2020, to December 26, 2020.

More information can be found here:

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-updates-medicare-covid-19-data-snapshot.

The pandemic continues to hit certain populations harder than others, including American Indian/Alaska Native beneficiaries, African-American beneficiaries, and Hispanic beneficiaries.

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Econometrica specializes in research and management across numerous industries in both the public and private sectors. We are always looking to hire the best and brightest in data science, health, grants management, energy, homeland security, housing and community development, capital markets and finance, and transportation. We work as the lead service provider, and also as a capable outsource partner to other consultancies. To work with us on your next project, visit us online and email a member of our executive staff in your preferred specialty. To explore the benefits of working for us, visit our careers page.

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Econometrica: Black Lives Matter

by Econometrica, Inc. | Jul 2, 2020 | 2020, Press Release

Econo BLM Website 320x220px BETHESDA, MD – The events unfolding over the last several months have been extremely difficult to watch. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis set off a wave of protest and introspection about race in America, much of which is long overdue. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the Nation, particularly in long-neglected Black communities.

It is clear that we are experiencing a pivotal point in our Nation’s history.
Econometrica actively stands with the Black community, our colleagues, their families, and clients in the fight against racism, injustice, and inequality. We stand with our community and firmly declare Black Lives Matter, today and every day.

Econometrica will continue to strive to create and maintain a diverse and welcoming workplace, something that is pivotal to our high-quality work, mission, and success. Our colleagues deserve it, and our clients and partners expect it. We must not lose sight of these issues, today or in the future; we must instead work to make a positive impact on the world. There is still much work to be done, but we are filled with hope as the world comes together in solidarity.

We encourage everyone to support each other with kindness and patience. A few of the many ways to get involved include signing petitions that promote change, donating to causes that are important to you, and taking time to learn more about issues relating to racial discrimination.

Please stay safe and stay strong. We are with you.

“I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust… We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.”

— Thurgood Marshall

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Cyrus Baghelai
President/CEO

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Econometrica will continue to strive to create and maintain a diverse and welcoming workplace, something that is pivotal to our high-quality work, mission, and success. Our colleagues deserve it, and our clients and partners expect it.

Press Contact

Kurt von Tish

Econometrica Launches New Course

by Econometrica, Inc. | Apr 17, 2020 | Health Projects

WashHands BETHESDA, MD – Econometrica launched a new course about handwashing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is the best thing, aside from social distancing, that you can do to protect yourself and your community from the spread of COVID-19. Adapted from guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new course will focus on when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy – a simple task, yet often misunderstood and performed poorly.

The new course is available at https://econometricainc.com/training/.

About Econometrica:

Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers, and business development.

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Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is the best thing, aside from social distancing.

Press Contact

Jonathan Fusfield

Econometrica Maintains Continued Operations During Coronavirus Pandemic

by Econometrica, Inc. | Mar 17, 2020 | 2020, Health Projects

COVID 1 BETHESDA, MD – On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) nationwide. Econometrica, Inc., continues to monitor developments related to the coronavirus pandemic to ensure the safety of our staff, their families, and communities. We also are taking steps toward meeting our commitments to clients and partners and continue to provide the high-quality and timely services expected from Econometrica.

The following summarizes steps we have taken to date:

Econometrica has mandated that all employees work full time from home for the foreseeable future. We are complying with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt gatherings of more than 50 people and to encourage social distancing.
Employees working remotely have full access, using secure configurations, to Econometrica’s network resources, applications, and support, including communication tools to support telework. No project work will be interrupted by this move to a remote setup.
Project teams in our Health, Housing and Community Development, General Services, Capital Markets, and Data Analytics groups are moving toward scheduling all meetings virtually and limiting travel. All business travel is temporarily suspended during this time.
Staff members who work onsite at our clients’ offices continue to report to their respective agencies unless directed otherwise. We have been in contact with each client to develop contingency plans to address remote work should access to the client site is limited or an employee shows symptoms of COVID-19.
We have regularly communicated prevention strategies and tips from CDC and the American Red Cross for keeping homes and workplaces safe. Everyone has been advised to call their doctors and follow CDC recommendations for self-quarantine should they show any symptoms related to COVID-19.

Coronavirus infections increase at an exponential rate, with symptoms including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Social distancing seems to be effective in reducing the spread, and Econometrica wants its employees to feel safe and remain healthy. As this outbreak unfolds, Econometrica will continue to provide its high-quality services with no reduction in availability or commitment.

About Econometrica:

Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers, and business development.

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

Coronavirus infections increase at an exponential rate, with symptoms including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Social distancing seems to be effective in reducing the spread, and Econometrica wants its employees to feel safe and remain healthy.