Skip to main content

COVID-19's Unique Impact on Independent Health Care Providers

Published Aug 02, 2020 by Julia McGowen

Health care surgery

As the pandemic continues, COVID’s crosshairs have settled on yet another victim: independent health care providers. From dentist offices to family practices, these facilities and those they employ face unique challenges to keep their (sometimes virtual) doors open.

Dr. Paul Hain, Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, presented his perspective on this challenge during a recent Partnership Health Care Council webinar. 

While the greater Houston region's health care system is faced with combating COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, providers and hospitals are experiencing sharp declines in revenue due to the pause in elective surgeries and the office closures of independent and specialty health care providers. Hain detailed how the CARES Act has allocated $175 billion in funding to help hospitals mitigate losses. Independent practices also benefited from the federal funds, but the support does not reach far enough in covering record revenue losses in the health care system. 

Hain said he's seen independent providers quickly pivot to inventive measures in providing care that have allowed these providers to maintain cash flow and capacity, enabling them to keep their operations going.

“Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas has seen stunning increases in telehealth claims," he explained. "Patients are realizing that care can be delivered very well via telehealth and we anticipate that members will continue to utilize this option well beyond the pandemic – telehealth is no longer a nice-to-have [tool].”

Independent providers will also have to adapt to value-based care contracts, which pay for quality outcomes rather than the volume of service and can them from a lack of volume.

“Telehealth and value-based care are going to be critical for the future of medicine,” Hain said. 

The chief medical officer also expressed how Blue Cross Blue Shield has seen troubling declines in claims for routine care and vaccinations, which could have negative long-term impacts.

“We have seen people afraid to go to the ER with an unexplained drop in stokes, heart attacks, and people falling behind in significant regular exams and screenings, which may have downstream effects on people’s health because they are afraid to go to the doctor with non-COVID issues.”

Hain said that as health care providers have become used to operating under pandemic conditions, it has become safer to visit the doctor today than it was in March. He added that while telehealth has shown many benefits, there are still methods of care that cannot be delivered virtually. 

Haim closed the virtual Council meeting by calling on Houstonians to follow social distancing and mask protocols, which not only protect ourselves, but more importantly, our health care providers.

“There is a shortage of nurses and acute care professionals, particularly respiratory care, which has pushed our systems to the limit in hot spots," said Hain. "We have to be able to take care of health care system so that the health care system can take care of you. It all wraps together. Masking in public and following good protocols is the best thing we can do for ourselves and health care system.” 

Council presentations are exclusive to Partnership members. Members also have ongoing access to a recording of presentations on the online member portal. To learn about becoming a member, click here.

Visit the Partnership's COVID-19 resource page for updates, guidance for employers and more information. 

Related News

Health Care

Houston Methodist to Accelerate Groundbreaking Research with New Lease at Helix Park

1/30/24
Houston Methodist has announced its lease of 75,800 square feet at the Dynamic One building within the thriving ecosystem of TMC Helix Park. The partnership between Houston Methodist, Texas Medical Center and Beacon Capital Partners heralds a new era of collaborative discovery and transformative healthcare solutions.  With Dynamic One serving as the epicenter of modern medicine, Houston Methodist is poised to accelerate its translational research efforts, particularly in cardiovascular sciences, orthopedics and RNA therapeutics.  “We are always focused on translating innovative medical discoveries into viable therapies for patients. These highly entrepreneurial programs, which translate these discoveries to the bedside, are a natural fit within the emerging biotechnology ecosystem that the TMC is cultivating,” said Edward A. Jones, president and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute.  Dynamic One's state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative atmosphere provide an ideal setting for Houston Methodist to further its research initiatives and expand its impact within the healthcare community. The inclusion of flexible laboratory space supports Beacon Capital's commitment to focus on the evolving needs of its tenants while fostering a culture of innovation.  With its prime location in the heart of Helix Park, Dynamic One not only provides unparalleled amenities and access but also serves as a hub for community engagement and public events. From its multi-purpose lounge to its expansive outdoor terrace, Dynamic One embodies the spirit of collaboration and discovery that defines TMC Helix Park.  “We are excited to welcome Houston Methodist to this space; their commitment to bench to bedside innovation and track record of transformative new discoveries aligns with our vision for the campus,” said William McKeon, President and CEO, Texas Medical Center. “Beacon Capital has been an outstanding partner in the development of TMC Helix Park, lending their insights to our efforts to design a campus that would seamlessly blend institutions and industry.”  As a cornerstone of the city's healthcare landscape, Houston Methodist's presence within TMC's Helix Park will catalyze innovation, attract top talent and stimulate economic growth.  Learn more about Houston’s life science ecosystem. 
Read More
Aerospace & Aviation

New Developments and Innovation Driving Growth in Bay Area Houston

12/7/23
Often referred to as the “Boating Capital of Texas”, Bay Area Houston is a top destination for businesses, families, and tourists, thanks in part to its close proximity to Galveston and Houston.  Encompassing a widely diverse region, the Bay Area stretches from Pasadena to Galveston, consisting of communities such as La Porte, Seabrook, Clear Lake Shores, Webster, Friendswood, League City, Dickinson, Texas City, and La Marque.  Boasting the nation’s third largest concentration of recreational boating centers and a variety of amateur sports, outdoor activities, beaches and parks, the Bay Area’s waterfront contributes to its high quality of life and has propelled growth in its recreation and tourism industry, while population growth in the area and the arrival of new facilities has buoyed the region’s health care sector.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, the Bay Area has experienced consistent growth in population, income, and employment since 2016 and is home to over 560,000 residents, based on 2019 data from the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.  Business Climate  Home to the NASA Johnson Space Center, Ellington Airport, and one of the world’s only truly urban commercial spaceports, Bay Area Houston is known as the nexus for Houston’s aerospace and aviation industries.  Additionally, the Bay Area is also an important hub for transportation and logistics, health care and life sciences, and tourism. Other industries of note include specialty chemical, maritime, and recreation.  Its robust industrial presence is supported by the construction of several industrial parks and complexes, as well as new warehouse and distribution centers and facilities.   Packwell, a plastics bagging and logistics company based in La Porte, recently broke ground on a 725,000-square-foot resin packaging facility at Port Houston’s Bayport Industrial Complex while Kao Corporation recently broke ground on a $250 million tertiary amine production plant in Pasadena.  Business Developments  Houston Spaceport  The Houston Spaceport serves as a center for collaboration and innovation in the aerospace community. Earlier this year, the company announced that it will launch Phase II of its expansion project with plans to begin work within the next 12 months. Phase II will stretch over 300 acres, offering more parcels for aerospace companies, a hotel, restaurants, and retail space.  Axiom Space broke ground this spring on a 23-acre campus that will house its new headquarters and space station production facility at the Spaceport. The campus will contain spaces for astronaut training, mission control facilities, and engineering development and testing labs. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in December 2023 to officially open the first phase of the development. Axiom has also leased space in Webster for engineering and production operations.  Collins Aerospace recently opened a 120,000-square-foot facility that will allow for expanded operations, manufacturing, and testing. Its new facility will support the development and testing of several key space systems, including the next-generation spacesuit.  Intuitive Machines broke ground on 12.5 acres at the Houston Spaceport with a 125,000-square-foot facility under construction that will house office, laboratory, production, assembly, and test space.  Mixed Use  A number of communities in the Bay Area Houston region have mixed use developments planned, including Seabrook, League City, Texas City, Friendswood, and more.  Seabrook Plaza on NASA Parkway is a 15-acre, $170 million mixed-use waterfront development that will feature two Margaritaville-branded hotels. The development will also include a 10,000-square-foot event center, a seven-story apartment complex, and 20,000 square feet of waterfront dining.  Riverview at Clear Creek in League City is another waterfront mixed-use development spanning 59 acres that will include a hotel, multifamily project, townhomes, an amphitheater, boardwalk and trails, and retail space and restaurants. The project also has marina infrastructure work currently underway.  Plaza 96 is a 75,000-square-foot mixed use development in League City that will have space for retail, restaurants, medical offices, and office warehouses. It is expected to break ground this year. One Sixty One in downtown Friendswood is a 5.5-acre development anchored by a boutique hotel and banquet room. The project will also include residences and executive offices, restaurants, retail, collaborative spaces, and a green rooftop experience. New construction began this spring. Click to expand Rendering of One Sixty One boutique hotel Photo courtesy of Banfield Properties, Inc.   Recreation & Tourism  Peninsula Beach Resort is a 110-acre resort development on Bolivar Peninsula at Crystal Beach that will include over 200 beach houses and cottages, in addition to five mid-rise condominium buildings and 50 RV sites. The development will also include a clubhouse, beach bar, and an FAA-approved airport, making it the only fly-in beach resort in the U.S.  Great Wolf Lodge broke ground on a new hotel, indoor waterpark, and conference center in Webster in 2022, with the resort planned to open in 2024. Representing a $200 million investment, the 27-acre site will also boast a 58,000-square-foot family entertainment center called Great Wolf Adventure Park.  Education  Bay Area Houston is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Houston-Clear Lake, which touts one of the most complete biotechnology graduate programs in the state, as well as San Jacinto College, College of the Mainland, Lee College, and Houston Community College.  College of the Mainland, a community college in Texas City with locations in League City and La Marque, opened its Industrial Careers Building in fall 2022 and has several new buildings planned, including a 134,000-square-foot library and classroom building, a 20,000-square-foot corporate and continuing education center, a 50,000-square-foot public services center, and a three-story classroom building.  Lee College recently opened its new 11,000-square-foot Corporate Training Center that will offer hands-on technical training, including onboarding and upskilling, and leadership development for employees of all levels. The center will give students and employees the opportunity to work with equipment that is being used in the field, as well as a number of training labs.  San Jacinto College is planning to launch a new degree program in spring 2024 that seeks to fill the workforce gap in early childhood education. The new Bachelor of Applied Science in education will target paraprofessionals and individuals who work for other early-learning programs.  Learn more about Houston’s surrounding regions. 
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners