In a March 5 letter to an Ohio lawmaker, America’s Essential Hospitals offered its support of legislation that would ensure hospitals caring for vulnerable patients are not unfairly penalized by Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).
In its letter of support for the Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, which Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) introduced March 11, the association said certain socioeconomic conditions may increase the likelihood of readmission for some patients, even when they receive high-quality care. The HRRP should recognize the differences between hospitals’ patient populations, the association said. America’s Essential Hospitals also highlighted the work of its Essential Hospitals Engagement Network, a federal Partnership for Patients initiative that has successfully curbed readmissions and improved patient safety.
Contact Shawn Gremminger, director, legislative affairs, at sgremminger@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0112 with questions.