Hospitals say emphasis on readmission rates could hit them hard

Tell a hospital that their readmission rates are too high, and they'll tell you they'll get back to you...at some point. But if CMS makes the request, on the other hand, hospital execs are a bit more forthcoming. So soon, hospital execs say there might have to be quite a lot more talking on this subject.

CMS announced, last week, that it will begin a pilot program in 15 hospitals to eliminate unnecessary hospital readmits. In coming years, on the advice of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, CMS may begin cutting payments for hospitals with relatively high readmission rates.

Meanwhile, President Obama's 2010 budget also set reducing excess hospital readmission rates as a goal, one that could save $8.4 billion over the next few years, it suggests.

To learn more about this trend:
- read this Modern Healthcare article (reg. req.)

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