Turbulent virus season ahead for hospitals
Although the CDC projects a moderate influenza season this winter, U.S. hospitals face a plethora of changes, including federal vaccine policy shifts, hospital-at-home disruptions and a growing measles outbreak.
The 2024-25 flu season was among the most severe since 2010, with approximately 47 million illnesses, 21 million healthcare visits, 610,000 hospitalizations and 28,000 flu-related deaths. The CDC estimates the 2025-26 season will result in similar hospitalization figures but for the overall severity to decline. This is because the CDC has never seen two consecutive high-severity flu seasons, so the agency predicts a moderate season for all age groups.
Shifting vaccine guidances
Still, the CDC recently broke with its past guidance when it recommended shared clinical-decision making this season — rather than a blanket recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination. Virginia officials have placed limits on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, and Florida’s health department is considering lifting school-based mandates for some shots.
About a dozen other states have enacted their own vaccine guidelines.
Across the nation, “what patients do with vaccines is going to matter,” Michael VanRooyen, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Mass General Brigham in Boston, told Becker’s.
“We might see a different season coming up because of the approach to vaccines,” Dr. VanRooyen said. “If people are not getting their flu vaccines or COVID vaccines, the respiratory season is going to be ugly and that [will be] really tough on the healthcare system.”
In Indiana, physicians are expecting a stronger-than-usual flu season after noting the same trend in the Southern Hemisphere, according to an Oct. 15 report from IndyStar.
Hospital-at-home and telehealth
As the federal government shutdown crawls into its third week, hospital-at-home programs, telehealth services and other care delivery flexibilities are on pause.
In late September, health systems scrambled to discharge or transfer their hospital-at-home patients as CMS reimbursement for these programs lapsed with the shutdown. And although Medicare telehealth flexibilities also shuttered, some hospitals continue to provide this service with hopes of retroactive reimbursement.
“That’s a significant risk for these organizations,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president of public policy at the American Telemedicine Association and executive director of the ATA’s advocacy arm.
More than 330 hospitals operate hospital-at-home programs, which cover thousands of patients, according to an Oct. 14 report from Politico.
Measles
As of Oct. 7, 42 states have confirmed 1,563 measles cases as an outbreak worsens across the nation. This is the highest number of annual cases since the U.S. declared measles was eliminated in 2000.
At the same time, childhood vaccine rates have been steadily dropping. During the 2024-25 school year, measles, mumps and rubella vaccine coverage fell to 92.5% among kindergartners. Exemptions rose to 3.6%, up from 3.3% the previous year.
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