Governor Mike Leavitt and Nancy-Ann DeParle Announce New, Multi-Sector Alliance to Address Long-COVID Challenges and Promote Recovery
Salt Lake City, April 28, 2021—Today, Governor Mike Leavitt, former Governor of Utah and former U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS), and Nancy-Ann DeParle, former Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy under President Barack Obama, announced the public launch of the COVID Patient Recovery Alliance, a new multi-sector alliance designed to help the healthcare community and policymakers address the healthcare challenges posed by individuals with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), also known as “long-COVID.” Starting last fall, Governor Leavitt and Nancy-Ann DeParle co-convened a national interdisciplinary group of leading healthcare providers, researchers, patient advocates, data scientists, service providers, and other national experts, to help the nation better understand long-COVID and respond to the needs of patients with long-COVID.
“The needs of patients with long-COVID are real and the breadth of support they require is extensive,” said Governor Leavitt. “As a nation and as a healthcare sector, we need near- and mid-term strategies to better identify care gaps, ensure care delivery, and ensure coverage for patients so that they can fully recover and reengage fully with their families, workplaces, and communities. We have a particular duty to try to meet the needs of Americans who are underserved, or who have already faced disparities and inequities due to COVID-19.”
“We have all seen the disproportionate impacts COVID-19 has had on some communities around the nation. We have to better understand the needs of patients who are at home but not yet fully recovered,” said Nancy-Ann DeParle. “That’s why we have been hard at work with partners across the healthcare community to leverage data, identify system, and coverage gaps. Our objective is to advance actionable, targeted approaches to help ensure quality care for patients with long-COVID in communities across the country.”
Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have completely recovered; however, a significant number of individuals are suffering from long-COVID. According to data, up to 100 million Americans have had COVID-19. Published studies estimate 10 to 30 percent of patients with COVID-19 have lasting symptoms for some period, with many of those symptoms, such as fatigue and brain fog, impacting their ability to return to work.
As part of their official launch of the Alliance, Governor Leavitt and Nancy-Ann DeParle also released a Call to Action, in which they outline the need for research and collaboration to “help inform how to best help the millions of Americans whose symptoms may not end, even after the public health emergency does.” Leavitt and DeParle said, “Private and public sector leaders need to collaborate in collecting data, understanding what care helps these patients, and ensuring payment mechanisms enable patients get care to recover.” They noted, “As we prepare to return to prosperity and happiness in the COVID-19 era, a shared commitment to provide support to those with long-COVID must remain because our fellow Americans deserve no less.”
Governor Leavitt and Nancy-Ann DeParle also submitted a letter commending the leaders of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health for holding a hearing, “The Long Haul: Forging a Path through the Lingering Effects of COVID-19.” In the letter, they said, “We applaud the Committee for holding the hearing. We see the importance of working together to provide care for patients with long-COVID.”
Since last fall, the COVID Patient Recovery Alliance has been working on identifying solutions for individuals with long-COVID who may be most in need – including those who served their communities or nation when called to duty, those whose COVID-19-related costs are extraordinary and burdensome, and those who are underserved, such as rural populations or communities of color experiencing health disparities. In the future, the Alliance will release more information as it engages with policymakers and the healthcare community, aiming to ensure a coordinated approach to achieving the following objectives:
- Data Collection and Evidence Generation: Coordinate federated studies to characterize long-COVID by leveraging members’ individual robust data assets and analytic capabilities. The Alliance will use the data work to inform policy positions, advocacy efforts, and best practices.
- Care Model Development: Inform the development of models of care to help optimize the use of resources and improve the care of patients with long-COVID based on evidence, best practices, and patients’ needs and characteristics.
- Payment Model Development: Inform the development of private sector and federal payment strategies, tools, and policies to ensure patients with long-COVID receive adequate care and support based on evidence, best practices, and patients’ needs and characteristics.
To learn more and view current Alliance members, please visit the COVID Patient Recovery Alliance website, available here.
About Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company:
Leavitt Partners, a leading consulting firm, is at the forefront of navigating change in healthcare by providing a holistic view of economic, market, delivery system, and political influences impacting healthcare. We improve lives by advancing value-based care, striving to make health more accessible, effective, and sustainable. For more information, visit www.LeavittPartners.com