Bill Overview
Title: TREAT Long COVID Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to create or expand the capacity of clinics that treat patients with persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19 (i.e., Long COVID). Eligible recipients include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, urban Indian health centers, and state and local health departments.
Sponsors: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Target Audience
Population: people with Long COVID
Estimated Size: 20000000
- Long COVID is a condition afflicting individuals who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 but continue to experience health issues.
- Estimates suggest that between 10% to 30% of individuals who have had COVID-19 could develop Long COVID.
- As of 2023, there have been over 760 million cases of COVID-19 globally.
- Taking an average estimate of 20% for Long COVID, approximately 150 million people worldwide might be affected.
- The bill aims to enhance healthcare services for these individuals by funding healthcare centers.
Reasoning
- Long COVID affects a significant portion of the population that recovered from acute COVID-19. This policy aims to alleviate the healthcare demands of these individuals by providing them with adequate treatment options.
- Considering the complexity and variability of Long COVID symptoms, as well as the widespread impact across both urban and rural areas, the policy would need to strategically allocate resources to ensure equitable access to care.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the policy requires understanding both its direct impact on individuals suffering from Long COVID and its indirect effects on the healthcare system.
- The diversity in individual experiences with Long COVID, including the severity and type of symptoms, will impact how different people perceive and benefit from this policy.
- This simulation considers people from different demographics and geographical locations within the US, to provide a comprehensive view of the potential impacts of the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Marketing Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I welcome any policy that will increase access to treatment for Long COVID.
- It's been quite hard finding clinics that have expertise in managing Long COVID symptoms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The lack of specialized clinics has been frustrating.
- I'm hoping this policy will lead to the opening of more local clinics.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Rural Kansas)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to specialized care would be a godsend.
- Travel to urban areas for treatment is both costly and exhausting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious if the policy can improve current services.
- Even mild symptoms can disrupt my life quite a bit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Chef (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More accessible treatment options are desperately needed.
- Dealing with Long COVID has been affecting my work performance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any improvement in local healthcare can make a huge difference.
- I'm hopeful that more understanding and targeted treatments will allow me to continue working effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graphic Designer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health resources would be a fantastic addition.
- Spreading awareness and understanding is key to recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Construction Worker (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to clinics with more specialized knowledge seems necessary.
- My work is physically demanding and it's been tough to keep up.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Freelance Writer (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More targeted Long COVID treatments would improve my quality of life.
- Cognitive issues have been particularly crippling for my work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Veteran (Boise, ID)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better access to specialized clinics through the VA would be greatly appreciated.
- I'm hoping for improvements that come with more targeted funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 3: $850000000 (Low: $650000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 5: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The exact number of individuals developing Long COVID remains uncertain, impacting demand projections for funded clinics.
- The scope of services offered by clinics (e.g., diagnostic, therapeutic) will affect both costs and savings.
- Coordination with existing healthcare infrastructure is necessary to avoid duplication and ensure comprehensive care.