Medicare Fines Over Hospitals' Readmitted Patients
By RICARD ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
WASHINGTON - Medicare is changing the way it does business with hospitals and the result could be fewer patients going back into the hospital after they were discharged.
As of Monday, Medicare starts imposing financial penalties on hospitals that have too many patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge because of complications.
The government estimates that about two-thirds of hospitals serving Medicare patients — some 2,200 facilities nationally — will be hit with penalties averaging around $125,000 per facility this coming year.
Medicare plans to post details online later in October. Consumers will be able to look up how their community hospitals performed.
Hospitals have scrambled to prepare for well over a year. They're working on ways to improve communication with rehab centers and doctors in their communities.