Hospital Readmission Reduction Program

Through the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services penalizes hospitals for “excess” readmissions when compared to “expected” levels of readmissions. Since the program began on Oct. 1, 2012, hospitals have experienced nearly $2.5 billion of penalties…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) August 2 issued its hospital inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) and long-term care hospital (LTCH) PPS final rule for fiscal year (FY) 2018. Select highlights of the final rule related to the inpatient PPS follow.
Proposed Rule: Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and The Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Proposed Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2018 Rates and Other Issues
Safety-net hospitals had larger average penalties than non-safety net hospitals under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program in fiscal year 2013, but that difference had disappeared by 2016, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) April 14 issued its hospital inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule for fiscal year (FY) 2018. Highlights of the proposed rule are in the Special Bulletin.