Unplanned hospital readmissions represent significant cost
Readmission rates for COVID-19 were consistently lower than for patients hospitalized for other reasons.
Photo: John Fedele/Getty Images
Unplanned hospital readmissions in Massachusetts represent a significant cost, not only to the health system but to patients and their families, according to the findings in a Center for Health Information and Analysis report on unplanned hospital readmissions in Massachusetts.
Unplanned hospital readmissions, defined as rehospitalizations within 30 days of an inpatient discharge, are an important indicator of health system performance, the report said.
WHY THIS MATTERS
This report, released on Thursday, examines statewide trends in readmissions for acute care hospitals for 10 years, from 2011 to 2021, and includes new details on COVID-19-related readmissions.
This is the second report to incorporate social risk factors into the risk-standardization methodology for hospital readmission rates to provide a more equitable basis for the comparison of hospital performance, the report said.
The unplanned, all-payer readmission rate for Massachusetts stayed the same from 2020 to 2021, at 16%. But Medicare and Medicaid patients had higher rates (18.2% and 17%, respectively) than commercially insured patients (10.3%).
Readmission rates for patients hospitalized with any diagnosis of COVID-19 were consistently lower than for patients hospitalized for other reasons, 11.7% and 15.6%, respectively, during the last quarter of 2021.
Patients with four or more hospitalizations within 12 months accounted for half (50%) of all readmissions.
THE LARGER TREND
The report presents readmissions by characteristics of patients and hospitalizations, readmission rates for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 discharges, and readmission rates for individual hospitals and groups of hospitals.
ON THE RECORD
"Unplanned hospital readmissions represent significant costs, not only to the healthcare system but to patients and their families," said Lauren Peters, executive director of the Center for Health Information and Analysis. "This report provides valuable insight to assist healthcare providers, stakeholders and policymakers in better identifying opportunities for the Commonwealth to improve quality of care and reduce preventable readmissions."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
