Article

HHS Claims Big Gains on Readmissions, Hospital-Acquired Harms

The Obama administration says the number of Medicare patients returning to hospitals within 30 days fell further in 2013, amounting to 150,000 fewer readmissions since January 2012.

The Obama administration says the number of Medicare patients returning to hospitals within 30 days fell further in 2013, amounting to 150,000 fewer readmissions since January 2012.

HHS describes the progress on readmissions in a brief report out Wednesday that claims the administration's quality initiatives and partnerships have achieved significant successes, including a reduction in hospital-induced harms credited with saving 15,000 lives and $4 billion.

The all-cause readmissions rate, according to the report, has declined to 17.5% in the past two years after hovering between 19% and 19.5% since 2007. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, hospitals' Medicare payments are docked for high rates of readmissions. The penalty rises to 3% in fiscal 2015.

Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/1s2VLPk

Source: Modern Healthcare

Related Videos
Richard J. Nowak, MD, MS, Yale School of Medicine
Naim Alkhouri, MD
Jaime Almandoz, MD, MBA
Martin Edelman, MD
Sam Peasah, PhD, MBA, RPh, director for the Center of High-Value Health Care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Pierluigi Porcu, MD
Image credit: Medical technology and futuristic concept. Doctor hologram modern virtual screen interface | SOMKID - stock.adobe.com
JC Scott, CEO and president of The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
Elizabeth Grush, MBA
Related Content
AJMC Managed Markets Network Logo
CH LogoCenter for Biosimilars Logo