To create this readmissions post, I have chosen three publications, the first of which provides a critical review of how the American public insurers address the issue, the second publication gives the point of view, also critical, of two hospital doctors, whilst the third is a review promoted by "The Commonwealth Fund" on the policies of US hospitals that are having the lowest rates of readmissions nationwide.
First publication
According to this article, CMS (the public body that manages the Medicare and Medicaid contracts in the US) estimates the average for the 30-day readmissions rates for patients who have been hospitalized for myocardial infarction, pneumonia and heart failure. If a hospital’s rates go above the average, CMS penalizes it with a reduction in the fees of all income in the following year, in proportion to the deviation of readmissions of the three monitored conditions. It’s estimated that in 2013, in a particular centre, the punishment can reach up to 3% of the turnover. Ah! And there will be no prize for hospitals with rates lower than the average.
