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It has been over one year since a was declared as America began grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and the first patients with the novel coronavirus arrived at our nation’s hospitals and health systems. Since then, the U.S. has seen nearly of the virus, approximately , and more than – the latter of which has driven a in the death rate making 2020 the deadliest year in U.S. history. These statistics are a grim reminder of the pandemic’s human toll and highlight the need for a strong infrastructure to support health care services for Americans, starting with our nation’s hospitals and health systems.

Hospitals have been on the front lines since the start of the pandemic and have endured historic financial challenges due to revenue losses from forced shutdowns and a slow resurgence of non-emergent care as well as increased costs associated with preparing for the pandemic and treating COVID-19 patients. In 2020, hospitals were projected to lose an estimated $323 billion, leaving nearly half of America’s hospitals and health systems with negative operating margins by the end of 2020.

Despite the advent of multiple COVID-19 vaccines and a growing number of Americans who have been , the pandemic continues to take its toll. Kaufman Hall recently projected that hospitals and health systems could lose an additional $53 to $122 billion in revenue in 2021.

Though vaccinations and other safety measures have helped curb the spread of the virus, as of mid-March 2021 the data show that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over.

• Nearly of COVID-19 are being reported daily on a seven-day average, which is about the same level as mid-October 2020.
• About per day occurred on a seven-day average, which is almost the same level as the beginning of December 2020 before the last surge.
• COVID-19 test positivity rates remain between , similar to levels experienced in October 2020.
• More than occurred over a seven day period, with a seven-day average of approximately receiving care for COVID-19, of which an average of .
• Hospital ICU bed occupancy remains high, with a national average of approximately . Three states – Texas, Delaware and Alabama – as well as the District of Columbia have 80% or more of their ICU beds currently occupied. 
• Experts warn that the pandemic could worsen over the next several months with the arrival of .

As the pandemic persists and patients continue to avoid critical care, hospitals face a long road to recovery in 2021 and beyond.

• Hospital operating margins between December 2020 and January 2021, and 46% compared with the same time period last year.
• While hospital revenues have improved from historic lows during the height of the pandemic, they remain well below pre-pandemic levels. In fact, in January 2021  from the same time period last year. Hospital outpatient revenues – down 10.4% from the same time last year – have been especially hit hard as patients continue to avoid non-emergent care.
• Hospital finances also have taken a hit as volumes have declined, while patient lengths of stay have increased. As of January 2021, from the same time last year, while the .
• As of January 2021, emergency department visits also have experienced a nearly from the same time last year, as many Americans remain skeptical of going to the hospital for critical care, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Revenue losses and sluggish recovery of patient volumes have been met with increased expenses creating the perfect financial storm for hospitals and health systems.

• While revenue has decreased, in January 2021  from the same time last year and on a per adjusted discharge basis hospital expenses have increased by .
• Hospitals and health systems across the country have reported needed to treat COVID-19 patients. These shortages have forced hospitals to where increased demand for health care personnel has driven a steep rise in prices. Moreover, many of these personnel are only temporary solutions to a more pervasive staffing problem. As a result, in January 2021 hospitals have experienced a from the same time last year.
• An by ²Ñ´Ç´Ç»å²â’s found that hospitals will incur higher costs for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies as well as infrastructure projects. These higher supply costs have manifested in a nearly per adjusted discharge as of January 2021.
• Hospitals also have experienced significant increases in drug expenses since the pandemic. as of January 2021. A recent by Vizient forecasted that drug prices would continue to increase into 2022.
• Credit rating agencies and both cautioned that increased costs threaten the financial outlook for the hospital sector and that 2021 will remain a challenging financial environment for hospitals and health systems.

As the nation has learned to cope with the effects of this pandemic over the last year, so have hospitals and health systems. These organizations – small and large, urban and rural – have worked tirelessly to mobilize a comprehensive response while overcoming daunting financial and operational challenges. Hospitals have cut costs where possible to maintain financial solvency, invested resources in constructing mobile units for testing and treatment, developed creative strategies to acquire PPE and supplies in shortage, and most recently, played a central role in vaccinating the communities they serve.

While patient volumes and hospital finances have experienced modest improvement since the height of the pandemic, they remain far from pre-pandemic levels. Government support and resources to date have proven invaluable to hospitals, but the data clearly show that this pandemic is far from over. More government support, including additional sequester relief to avoid new Medicare cuts, is desperately needed. We must work together to safeguard the financial health and well-being of America’s hospitals and health systems so that they may continue to provide care and advance the health of patients and the communities they serve.