Meticulous preparation is key to successful surgical procedures. Securing the appropriate supplies, optimally scheduling procedure times, and constantly maintaining accurate and updated maps to Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT® terms, are just a few factors to consider. But even the best planning couldn’t possibly have prepared US hospitals for the ripple effect COVID-19 has had on surgical services and, ultimately, their revenue.

In the middle of March, as the pandemic spread, elective surgeries ground to a halt, effectively shutting down the engine that powers large portions of the American healthcare system. While the full impact of this pause has yet to be determined, the data thus far is sobering: