State of the Presidential Race

• Biden has had a lead of 7-10 points in the presidential election since the Summer of 2019, and that trend is currently continuing.

The Impact on Healthcare

• We came into this year with healthcare as the top issue of the election, but since COVID-19 hit the U.S., it hasn’t played as large of a part as many thought it would since the beginning of the year.
• Though that began to change mid-summer with consumers coming out of lockdown and this week as people begin to participate in early voting.

COVID-19 and its Impact on Voting

• A COVID-19 outbreak has the potential to massively impact that number of voters that show up to vote on Election Day. We already see this happen in Milwaukee, where they have consolidated 180 polling locations to less than 12 due to the COVID-19 crisis.
• This has the potential to give Democrats an advantage over the Republican Party due to many of their voters utilizing the mail-in ballots, whereas Republicans historically have more heavily relied upon election day voters.

Three Things Providers Should Have in Mind, Regardless of Who Wins.

• There will be another stimulus package, no matter who wins this year’s election. Providers must continue to make the case to political leaders to ensure they see the essential role providers have and are playing in the COVID-19 crisis.
• Surprise billing is here to stay and will begin to resurface post-election or at the latest in 2021.
• With the COVID-19 vaccine controversy heating up every day, it will take providers playing a larger role for the country to see the vaccine’s mass adoption. Here are ten vaccine considerations for hospital communicators.