Becker's Hospital Review

55 CMO / CARE DELIVERY Homelessness at record high: What it means for hospitals By Mackenzie Bean A record number of Americans are experiencing homelessness in 2023 amid rising housing costs and other societal challenges. e increase could put additional strain on the U.S. healthcare system and lead to worse patient outcomes if health systems do not take actions to improve the health of those experiencing homelessness. More than 577,000 people are experiencing homelessness in the U.S., marking an 11 percent increase from 2022, according to e Wall Street Journal's review of available data. is increase marks the largest jump seen since the federal government started tracking homelessness rates in 2007. e Journal's preliminary tally is based on a review of data from more than 300 organizations that track homelessness rates in various U.S. cities and states. ese entities accounted for eight of every nine people experiencing homelessness in 2022, according to the report. e data are still preliminary, the Journal noted, adding that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is slated to share a final estimate by the end of 2023. Research has long linked homelessness to poor health outcomes. A 2022 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found older adults who remained homeless during the four-and-a-half year study period were 80 percent more likely to die than those who regained housing. In addition, many people who are homeless oen use hospital emergency departments as their only source of healthcare. ese utilization trends prove challenging for ED clinicians to provide adequate care, as many people experiencing homelessness "oen have a multitude of diagnosed and undiagnosed health conditions, in addition to poor social circumstances," according to a study published in the International Journal of Emergency Medicine. Health systems are working to address homelessness through a variety of approaches and initiatives, including offering housing assistance, opening community clinics and partnering with social organizations. Donna Lynee, CEO of Denver Health, said one of the system's biggest areas for growth in the next three years is more integration with nonprofits and government agencies to better address homelessness, mental health and substance abuse. "ese services are fragmented and coordination across these sectors can improve outcomes and reduce costs," she told Becker's in June. CMS is also aiming to better support hospitals in these endeavors. Earlier in August, the agency finalized plans to increase payments to hospitals for treating homeless patients. "As part of CMS' health equity goals, we are rewarding hospitals that deliver high-quality care to underserved populations and, for the first time, also recognizing the higher costs that hospitals incur when treating people experiencing homelessness," CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in an Aug. 1 news release. n Image Credit: Adobe Stock New York hospital reinstates masks 1 month after ending mandate By Mackenzie Bean A uburn (N.Y.) Community Hospital has restored its universal mask mandate only a month after officially ending the policy, ABC affiliate WSYR reported Aug. 18. The hospital is requiring all staff, patients and visitors to wear masks in clinical areas, effective Aug. 19. Masks are also required at its physician practices and 80-bed skilled nursing facility. Patients with COVID-19 will be restricted to one visitor who is wearing full personal protective equipment, according to the hospital's policy, which remains in effect until further notice. The mandate comes two days after Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y., reinstated universal masking and as COVID-19 cases tick up nationwide. New York reported 650 new admissions in the week ending Aug. 5, marking a 3 percent increase from the week prior, CDC data shows. The CDC recommends hospitals take a risk-based approach that considers various factors, including local transmission, when deciding when to implement universal masking. n

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