Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CMS Guidance On Hospital Readmissions Urges Improved Care For Vulnerable Patients
USA Today: Feds Push Hospitals To Improve Care After Discharging Minority Patients
Federal officials are urging hospitals to improve care for minority and low-income Medicare patients so they don't wind up back in the hospital soon after they're discharged. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is issuing guidance to hospitals Tuesday on how to improve communication and care for these disadvantaged patients if they want to avoid penalties when these people have to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge. (O'Donnell, 1/26)
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Under Pressure To Cut Readmissions For Minorities, Poor
The CMS is pushing hospitals to establish more aggressive care plans and to team up with non-medical personnel such as social workers in a new guidance aimed at reducing readmissions for minority and low income Medicare enrollees. Minority and other vulnerable people with chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure are more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge than their white counterparts, according to the CMS. (Dickson, 1/26)
