Legislation Would Factor Patient Finances into Readmission Penalities

The Senate introduced legislation this week that would require Medicare to consider patients' finances when deciding whether to punish a hospital for readmission numbers.

The bill, sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, aims to help hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income patients. It does not specify how to revise the penalty program--leaving it up to Medicare.

The program will put up to 3 percent of a hospital's Medicare payments at risk and expand the number of conditions it bases the assessment on to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and total hip and knee replacements, according to Kaiser Health News.

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Source: Fierce Healthcare