CMS: Medicare 30-day hospital readmissions fall by 565,000 over five years

Medicare 30-day readmission rates declined in 49 states between 2010 and 2015, resulting in an estimated 565,000 fewer hospital readmissions, according to data released yesterday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Rates fell by more than 5% in 43 states and by more than 10% in 11 states, CMS officials said. While hospitals have reduced readmissions by 565,000 since 2010, the program has penalized them by $1.9 billion, a new AHA infographic notes. As part of an AHA Advocacy Day yesterday, hospital leaders urged their senators to enact House-passed legislation (H.R. 5273) that would create a fairer comparison among hospitals by adjusting the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program measures for socioeconomic factors.