Reducing hospital readmissions is a CMS priority

Description

Abstract: It’s estimated that a large percentage of hospital readmissions of elderly patients are “potentially preventable.” As a result, CMS has launched initiatives to reduce readmission rates and the associated costs. This article discusses increased CMS authority to cut payments to hospitals that have high readmission rates for a variety of conditions. It describes two broad approaches for reducing the rates and lists strategies that have helped several hospitals.