Reducing Hospital Readmissions from H and HN

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have been focusing on reducing acute care readmissions within 30 days of discharge through its Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. Hospitals with higher than expected 30-day readmission rates will incur penalties against their total Medicare payments beginning in federal fiscal 2013.

Commercial payers likely will follow suit, as organizations such as the Joint Commission, Partnership for Patients and the National Quality Forum support this program.

To meet the challenge, hospitals need to take a structured approach to reducing readmissions — an assessment of the organization's risk and a comprehensive strategy that transitions the patient from the hospital to post-hospital care.

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