Latest News On Readmissions

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Medicare Fines for High Hospital Readmissions Drop, but Nearly 2,300 Facilities Are Still Penalized

KFF Health News Original

Federal officials said they are penalizing 2,273 hospitals, the fewest since the fiscal year that ended in September 2014. Driving the decline was a change in the formula to compensate for the chaos caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

Medicare Punishes 2,499 Hospitals for High Readmissions

KFF Health News Original

The federal government’s hospital penalty program finishes its first decade by lowering payments to nearly half the nation’s hospitals for readmitting too many Medicare patients within a month. Penalties, though often small, are credited with helping reduce the number of patients returning for another Medicare stay within 30 days.

Medicare Fines Half of Hospitals for Readmitting Too Many Patients

KFF Health News Original

The penalties are the ninth round of a program created as part of the Affordable Care Act’s broader effort to improve quality and lower costs. The average reduction in federal payments is 0.69%, with 613 hospitals receiving a penalty of 1% or more.

Your Plumber Offers A Money-Back Guarantee. Should Your Doctor?

KFF Health News Original

Even though consumers don’t expect to pay for faulty service or goods, they are often forced to pay for bad health care. But a small number of hospitals and doctors are seeking to change that practice.

Missouri Hospitals Seek To Focus Readmission Penalties On Patient Poverty

KFF Health News Original

The Missouri Hospital Association objects to the formula for setting the federal penalties because it does not factor in the number of patients who are poor or in bad health. It is seeking to generate consumer interest in the penalties.

Cleveland Hospitals Grapple With Readmission Fines

KFF Health News Original

The Cleveland Clinic, serving mostly insured patients, sees its Medicare fines go down, while fines go up at the city’s hospitals in low-income neighborhoods. The National Quality Forum is beginning a trial to adjust the program for hospitals that serve more poor people.

Health-Law Test To Cut Readmissions Lacks Early Results

KFF Health News Original

Results so far show community agencies haven’t made a big difference in keeping seniors from making return hospital trips. But administration officials say the program has plenty of potential.

Readmissions Penalties By State: Year 3

KFF Health News Original

Medicare evaluated the readmission rates of the nation’s hospitals in determining the third year of penalties in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. This table lists the average impact on hospitals in each state.