Big costs when patient re-admission is needed

Health care reform intended to address the massive costs of American patient care could have a good deal of work ahead. Practicing preventative medicine is vital to the nation’s well-being, yet America doesn’t appear to be proficient in that regard. A 2009 study by the New England Journal of Medicine shows that 20 percent of Medicare patients are back within the hospital a mere 30 days after initial release. After 90 days, that percentage increases to one-third. Startlingly, after one year, two-thirds are either readmitted or they die.

Constant re-admission is a tremendous financial drain

Medicare cost America $17.4 billion in 2004, writes the Huffington Post. That money black hole forced Medicare to start paying closer attention to which hospitals had the highest bounce-back rate of re-admission. Those with high re-admit rates are financially penalized. A new industry was born amidst the turmoil; private businesses would extend their efficiency expert services to afflicted hospitals. Thinking about that a number of studies show that three-quarters of all re-admissions are preventable, it seems likely the efficiency experts have lots of business.

Hospitals and nursing homes won’t take ownership

Lack of proper communication is apparently the common ingredient when it comes to hospitals and skilled nursing facilities providing sub-par care that leads to re-admission. Not sharing the right info on patient and meds are among the communication issues at hand. The problem grows substantially for those Medicaid patients who are older and are shuttled between general and intensive care facilities.

Medicare and insurers sometimes lack foresight

According to the Huffington Post, Medicare and private insurers will invariably recommend skilled nursing over inpatient rehab for stroke victims in recovery. This is done due to lower costs up front, but the rebound rate at skilled nursing facilities in this scenario is seven times higher. Medicare and private insurance companies must learn to see beyond the low original cost, because it will likely save millions, say critics.

Get the answers you need

Medical care facilities will usher patients out as easily as possible unless patients and their loved ones force them to slow down and answer questions. Ask your doctor about all risks and future care procedures for clarity. If you’d like more information on what questions to ask, look into the Huffington Post article.

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Huffington Post

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