A new study finds that hospital participation in Medicare’s voluntary value-based reforms is associated with fewer 30-day readmissions under the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) for patients with heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia.
The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined readmissions data for 2,837 hospitals between 2008 and 2015. Researchers evaluated readmissions rates in relation to participation in Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs, Medicare accountable care organizations, and the Bundled Payment for Care Initiative.
Researchers found that hospitals participating in at least one of the programs saw larger reductions in readmissions under the HRRP than those not participating in the voluntary reforms. Further, participation in all three voluntary programs was associated with even higher reductions in readmissions: 1.27 percentage points for heart attack; 1.64 percentage points for heart failure; and 1.05 percentage points for pneumonia.
Contact Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
