William Dietz of George Washington University Talks About the Importance of Obesity on COVID-19

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, results showed consistency across analyses reviewed that most estimates of symptom changes were close to zero and not significant.

In this episode, Peter Wehrwein, managing editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, speaks with Dr. Rodrigo Cerda. Dr. Cerda has been recently promoted to the position of senior vice president of health services and chief medical officer of Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. He is also a member of Managed Healthcare Executive’s editorial advisory board. Peter and Dr. Cerda discuss his new role at the Independence Blue Cross, what it means to be a chief medical officer at an insurer these days, valued-based care, social determinants of health, and, of course, the pandemic.

Up to half of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 may experience symptoms lasting beyond three months post-infection, including severe fatigue, organ system-based symptoms and other persistent symptoms.

Briana Contreras, associate editor of MHE, spoke with Dr. Maria Hernandez, founder and CEO of Impact4Health. Maria shared not only how healthcare inequities remain to be an issue and what needs to be addressed, but also the progress that has been made over time through awareness, conversations and laws, especially due to the heightened awareness of inequities caused from the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more - which have now occurred over a year ago.

Healthcare leaders are urging the public in a new public service announcement to make sure they are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated bivalent booster dose when eligible.

Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. have indicated that they are going to price their shots at between $110 and $130. The shots should still be free to individuals because of rules barring out-of-pocket costs for such vaccinations.