National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) (1)
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) (1)
- Elderly (6)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (2)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (2)
- Healthcare Costs (8)
- Health Insurance (2)
- Health Systems (2)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Hospitalization (2)
- Hospital Readmissions (9)
- (-) Hospitals (26)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Long-Term Care (2)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (1)
- (-) Medicare (26)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Outcomes (3)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Payment (2)
- Policy (3)
- Provider Performance (3)
- Public Reporting (1)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (1)
- Quality of Care (4)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Rural/Inner-City Residents (1)
- Rural Health (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
- Surgery (5)
- Transitions of Care (1)
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (1)
- Workforce (2)
AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 26 Research Studies DisplayedHenke RM, Fingar KR, Liang L
AHRQ Author: Liang L, Jiang HJ
Medicare Advantage in rural areas: implications for hospital sustainability.
This study examined the association between Medicare Advantage penetration levels in rural areas and hospital financial distress and closure. This retrospective study followed rural general acute hospitals open from 2008-2019 or until closure using HCUP State Inpatient Databases for 14 states. Medicare Advantage penetration at rural hospitals grew from 6.5% in 2008 to 20.6% in 2019. A 1-percentage point increase in hospital penetration was associated with an increase in financial stability of 0.04 units on the Altman Z score and a 4% reduction in risk of closure (HR, 0.96).
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201800005C.
Citation: Henke RM, Fingar KR, Liang L .
Medicare Advantage in rural areas: implications for hospital sustainability.
Am J Manag Care 2023 Nov; 29(11):594-600. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2023.89455..
Keywords: Medicare, Rural Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Hospitals
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
This study’s objective was to compare surgical outcomes and expenditures at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. This cross-sectional retrospective study used data from 842,787 Medicare beneficiary patient admissions to hospitals with and without Health Professional Shortage Area designations for common operations including appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and hernia repair from 2014 to 2018. Primary outcomes measures were 30-day mortality, hospital readmissions, and 30-day surgical episode payments. Patients (mean age=75.6 years, males=44.4%) undergoing common surgical procedures in shortage area hospitals were less likely to be White (84.6% vs 88.4%) and less likely to have≥2 Elixhauser comorbidities (75.5% vs 78.2%). Patients undergoing surgery at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals had lower risk-adjusted rates of 30-day mortality (6.05% vs 6.69%) and readmission (14.99% vs 15.74%). Medicare expenditures at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals were also lower than nonshortage designated hospitals ($28,517 vs $29,685).
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
Ann Surg 2023 Oct 1; 278(4):e733-e39. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005762..
Keywords: Hospitals, Surgery, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Workforce, Outcomes
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
This study’s objective was to compare high-risk surgical outcomes at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. The authors performed a retrospective review of Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas and nonshortage areas who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass graft, esophagectomy, liver resection, pancreatectomy, or rectal resection between 2014 and 2018. They compared rates of postoperative complications and 30-day mortality between the patient cohorts. They used beneficiary and hospital ZIP codes to quantify travel time to obtain care. Compared with patients living in nonshortage areas, patients living in health professional shortage areas traveled longer (median 60.0 vs 28.0 minutes). There were no differences in risk-adjusted rates of complications (28.5% vs 28.6%) and small differences in rates of 30-day mortality (4.2% vs 4.4%) between beneficiaries living in shortage areas versus those not in shortage areas, respectively.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
J Rural Health 2023 Sep; 39(4):824-32. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12748..
Keywords: Surgery, Hospitals, Workforce, Medicare, Outcomes
McGarry BE, Mao Y, Nelson D
Hospital proximity and emergency department use among assisted living residents.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to explore the association between the distance of assisted living (AL) communities to the nearest hospital and AL residents' rates of emergency department (ED) utilization. The researchers hypothesized that when access to an ED is a shorter distance, AL-to-ED transfers are more common, especially for non-emergency conditions. The study found that among 540,944 resident-years from 16,514 AL communities, the median distance to the closest hospital was 2.5 miles. After statistical adjustment, a doubling of distance to the closest hospital was related with 43.5 fewer ED treat-and-release visits per 1000 resident years and no significant difference in the rate of ED visits resulting in an inpatient admission. Among ED treat-and-release visits, a doubling of distance was related with a 3.0% decrease in visits classified as nonemergent, and a 1.6% decrease in visits classified as emergent, not primary care treatable.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: McGarry BE, Mao Y, Nelson D .
Hospital proximity and emergency department use among assisted living residents.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023 Sep; 24(9):1349-55.e.5. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.05.002..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Hospitals
Mullens CL, Scott JW, Mead M
Surgical procedures at critical access hospitals within hospital networks.
Critical access hospitals provide vital care to more than 80 million Americans. These facilities, often rural, are located greater than 35 miles away from another hospital and are required to maintain patient transfer agreements with other facilities capable of providing higher levels of care. The purpose of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to assess surgical outcomes and expenditures at critical access hospitals that do participate in a hospital network compared with those who do not participate in a hospital network among Medicare beneficiaries. From 2014 to 2018 the researchers compared 16,128 Medicare beneficiary admissions for appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or hernia repair at critical access hospitals. The study found that Medicare beneficiaries who received care at critical access hospitals in a hospital network were more likely to carry 2 or more Elixhauser comorbidities. Rates of 30-day mortality and readmission rates were higher at critical access hospitals in a hospital network. Finally, total payments per episode were discovered to be $960 greater per patient at critical access hospitals that were in a hospital network ($23,878) when compared with critical access hospitals that were not in a hospital network ($22,918).
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Mullens CL, Scott JW, Mead M .
Surgical procedures at critical access hospitals within hospital networks.
Ann Surg 2023 Sep 1; 278(3):e496-e502. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005772..
Keywords: Surgery, Hospitals, Medicare
Arbaje AI, Woodman S, Keita Fakeye MB
Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk or mortality among Medicare beneficiaries since the Affordable Care Act.
This study examined whether there was an association between readmission risk or mortality among Medicare beneficiaries and passage of the Affordable Care Act. The study updated the Senior Care Services Scale (SCSS) which describes hospital provision of older adult services before the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of older adults ≥65 years (n = 1,416,669), admitted to 2570 US acute-care hospitals from 2014 to 2015. Outcomes were hospital readmission, or death, within 30 and 90 days of discharge. The updated SCSS included three service groups: Inpatient Specialty Care, Post-Acute Community Care, and Home Care and Hospice. Older adults admitted to high Inpatient-Specialty-Care-scoring hospitals had lower risk of death within 30 days, and 90 days. There was no significant association between the other two groups and study outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022916.
Citation: Arbaje AI, Woodman S, Keita Fakeye MB .
Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk or mortality among Medicare beneficiaries since the Affordable Care Act.
J Appl Gerontol 2023 Jul; 42(7):1424-32. doi: 10.1177/07334648231161925..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospitals, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare
Trenaman L, Harrison M, Hoch JS
Medicare beneficiaries' perspectives on the quality of hospital care and their implications for value-based payment.
The objective of this study was to estimate the relative importance of the 4 quality domains in the Medicare's Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program from the perspective of Medicare beneficiaries and the impact of using beneficiary value weights on incentive payments for hospitals enrolled in FY 2019. A nationally representative sample of 1025 Medicare beneficiaries was recruited through Ipsos KnowledgePanel for an online survey. Hospital performance on clinical outcomes was most highly valued by beneficiaries, followed by safety, patient experience, and efficiency. The authors concluded that current HVBP program value weights do not reflect beneficiary preferences, suggesting that the use of beneficiary value weights may exacerbate disparities by rewarding larger, high-volume hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS027853.
Citation: Trenaman L, Harrison M, Hoch JS .
Medicare beneficiaries' perspectives on the quality of hospital care and their implications for value-based payment.
JAMA Netw Open 2023 Jun; 6(6):e2319047. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.19047..
Keywords: Medicare, Inpatient Care, Hospitals
Hsuan C, Braun TM, Ponce NA
Are improvements still needed to the modified hospital readmissions reduction program: a health and retirement study (2000-2014)?
This study examined whether modifications to the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) addressed concerns that it unfairly penalized safety net hospitals treating patients with high social and functional risks. Data from 2000-2014 Medicare hospital discharge, Health and Retirement Study, and other community-level data was used. The authors estimated risk-standardized readmission rates (RSRRs) for peer groups and by safety net status using four hierarchical logistic regression models. Patient data used was from 20,255 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries (65+) with eligible index hospitalizations. Hospitals were categorized by peer group, with 1 having the lowest number of at-risk patients, and 5 categorized as a safety-net hospital. Under the modifications fewer safety-net hospitals were penalized, but worsened for those in peer groups 1,2, and 3.
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Hsuan C, Braun TM, Ponce NA .
Are improvements still needed to the modified hospital readmissions reduction program: a health and retirement study (2000-2014)?
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Dec;35(12):3564-71. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06222-1..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Medicare
Everson J, Adler-Milstein J, Ryan AM
Hospitals strengthened relationships with close partners after joining accountable care organizations.
This study tested the hypothesis that hospitals participating in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) try to influence where their patients receive care in order to achieve quality and cost containment goals. The authors studied hospitals participating in ACO from 2010 to 2014. ACO hospitals shared patients 4.4% more than non-ACO hospitals. This occurred disproportionately at hospitals that already shared a high proportion of their patients prior to participation and among hospitals in ACOs characterized as physician-hospital collaborations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Everson J, Adler-Milstein J, Ryan AM .
Hospitals strengthened relationships with close partners after joining accountable care organizations.
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Dec;77(6):549-58. doi: 10.1177/1077558718818336..
Keywords: Hospitals, Medicare, Policy, Health Insurance
Jacobs PD, Basu J
AHRQ Author: Jacobs PD, Basu J
Medicare Advantage and postdischarge quality: evidence from hospital readmissions.
This study compared relative readmission rates for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare (TM). HCUP State Inpatient Databases data for 4 states was used from 2009 and 2014. The outcome compared was the probability of a hospital readmission within 30 days of an index admission. There were significantly lower all-cause readmission rates among MA enrollees relative to those in TM in both 2009 and 2014, but MA enrollment was not associated with an increased reduction in readmission rates relative to TM during that time period.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Jacobs PD, Basu J .
Medicare Advantage and postdischarge quality: evidence from hospital readmissions.
Am J Manag Care 2020 Dec;26(12):524-29. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2020.88540..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Elderly, Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Provider Performance
Short MN, Ho V
Weighing the effects of vertical integration versus market concentration on hospital quality.
Provider organizations are increasing in complexity, as hospitals acquire physician practices and physician organizations grow in size. At the same time, hospitals are merging with each other to improve bargaining power with insurers. In this study, the investigators analyzed 29 quality measures reported to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Hospital Compare database for 2008 to 2015 to test whether vertical integration between hospitals and physicians or increases in hospital market concentration influenced patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024727.
Citation: Short MN, Ho V .
Weighing the effects of vertical integration versus market concentration on hospital quality.
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Dec;77(6):538-48. doi: 10.1177/1077558719828938.
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Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Quality of Care, Patient Experience, Hospitals, Medicare, Provider Performance, Health Systems
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
This study compared the effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) use versus skilled nursing facility (SNF) transfer after hospitalization. Medicare claims linked to electronic health record (EHR) data from six Texas hospitals between 2009 and 2010 were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients transferred to either an LTACH or SNF and followed for one year. Out of 3505 patients, 18% were transferred to an LTACH and overall were younger, less likely to be female, and white, but sicker than transfers to an SNF. Patients transferred to an LTACH were less likely to survive (59 vs. 65%) or recover (62.5 vs 66%). Adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders found in Medicare claims and EHR data, transfer location was not significantly associated with differences in mortality but was associated with greater Medicare spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME .
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Nov 11;20(1):1032. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05847-6..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Medicare, Transitions of Care, Nursing Homes, Hospitals
Ibrahim AM, Nuliyalu U, Lawton EJ
Evaluation of US hospital episode spending for acute inpatient conditions after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
This study evaluated the association between enactment of Affordable Care Act (ACA) reforms and 30-day price standardized hospital episode spending for Medicare patients. Reforms to reduce spending were targeted to acute care hospitals and often focused on specific diagnoses such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia. The policy evaluation included index discharges between January 2008 and August 31, 2015 from a random 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Three different estimation approaches were used to evaluate the association between reforms and episode spending: difference-in-difference (DID) analysis among acute care hospitals; a DID analysis comparing acute care hospitals and critical care hospitals; and a generalized synthetic control analysis, comparing acute care and critical access hospitals. A total of 7,634,242 index discharges were included. All 3 approaches found that ACA-associated spending reforms were associated with a significant reduction in episode spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Ibrahim AM, Nuliyalu U, Lawton EJ .
Evaluation of US hospital episode spending for acute inpatient conditions after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2023926. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.23926..
Keywords: Elderly, Policy, Hospitals, Medicare, Healthcare Costs
Germack HD, Bizhanova Z, Roberts ET
Substantial hospital level variation in all-cause readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries with serious mental illness.
This study’s purpose was to examine the variation across hospitals in readmissions for patients with serious mental illness (SMI) and differences in the characteristics of hospitals with the highest and lowest readmission rates. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of pooled inpatient claims from 2013-2016. The 5% sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries included patients with SMI. The authors identified 2066 hospitals with at least 30 index admissions for Medicare beneficiaries with SMI. Factors most strongly associated with increased risk of readmission included substance use disorder and end stage renal disease. Hospital readmission rates ranged from 7.05% to 15.24%. Hospitals with the lowest adjusted readmission rates were more likely to be teaching hospitals and located in the South or Midwest.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Germack HD, Bizhanova Z, Roberts ET .
Substantial hospital level variation in all-cause readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries with serious mental illness.
Healthc 2020 Sep;8(3):100453. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2020.100453..
Keywords: Elderly, Behavioral Health, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Hospitals, Hospitalization
Sankaran R, Gulseren B, Nuliyalu U R, Gulseren B, Nuliyalu U
A comparison of estimated cost savings from potential reductions in hospital-acquired conditions to levied penalties under the CMS Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program.
The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reduces Medicare payments to hospitals with high rates of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) by 1% each year. It is not known how the savings accruing to CMS from such penalties compare to savings resulting from a reduction in HACs driven by this program. This study compared the reported savings to CMS from financial penalties levied under the HACRP with savings resulting from potential reductions in HACs.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053; HS026244.
Citation: Sankaran R, Gulseren B, Nuliyalu U R, Gulseren B, Nuliyalu U .
A comparison of estimated cost savings from potential reductions in hospital-acquired conditions to levied penalties under the CMS Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2020 Aug;46(8):438-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2020.05.002.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Patient Safety, Medicare
Yakusheva O, Hoffman GJ
Does a reduction in readmissions result in net savings for most hospitals? An examination of Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program.
This study aimed (1) to estimate the impact of an incremental reduction in excess readmissions on a hospital's Medicare reimbursement revenue, for hospitals subject to penalties under the Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program and (2) to evaluate the economic case for an investment in a readmission reduction program.
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Yakusheva O, Hoffman GJ .
Does a reduction in readmissions result in net savings for most hospitals? An examination of Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program.
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Aug;77(4):334-44. doi: 10.1177/1077558718795745..
Keywords: Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Healthcare Costs, Policy
Hoffman GJ, Tilson S, Yakusheva O
The financial impact of an avoided readmission for teaching and safety-net hospitals under Medicare's hospital readmission reduction program.
This study examined the financial incentives to avoid readmissions under Medicare’s Hospital Readmission Reduction Program for teaching hospitals (THs) and safety-net hospitals (SNHs). Readmissions data for 2,465 hospitals was analyzed using Medicare’s FY 2016 Hospital Compare. The authors tested for differential revenue gains for SNHs relative to non-SNHs and for major and minor THs relative to non-THs. They found that revenue gains of an avoided readmission were 10-15% greater for major THs compared with non-THs, but no different for SNHs compared with non-SNHs.
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Hoffman GJ, Tilson S, Yakusheva O .
The financial impact of an avoided readmission for teaching and safety-net hospitals under Medicare's hospital readmission reduction program.
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Aug;77(4):324-33. doi: 10.1177/1077558718795733..
Keywords: Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Healthcare Costs
Hsu HE, Wang R, Broadwell C
Association between federal value-based incentive programs and health care-associated infection rates in safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals.
The authors assessed the association of Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) and Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) implementation with changes in rates of targeted health care-associated infections and disparities in rates among safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals. They found that HACRP and HVBP implementation was not associated with any improvements in targeted health care-associated infections among safety-net or non-safety-net hospitals or with changes in disparities in infection rates. They concluded that, given the persistent health care-associated infection rate disparities, these programs appear to function as a disproportionate penalty system for safety-net hospitals that offer no measurable benefits for patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS018414.
Citation: Hsu HE, Wang R, Broadwell C .
Association between federal value-based incentive programs and health care-associated infection rates in safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Jul;3(7):e209700. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.9700..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Medicare, Patient Safety
Smith ME, Shubeck SP, Nuliyalu U
Local referral of high-risk patients to high-quality hospitals: surgical outcomes, cost savings, and travel burdens.
In this study, the investigators sought to assess the potential changes in Medicare payments and clinical outcomes of referring high-risk surgical patients to local high-quality hospitals within small geographic areas. The investigators concluded that complication rates and Medicare payments were significantly lower for high-risk patients treated at local high-quality hospitals. The investigators suggest that triaging high-risk patients to local high-quality hospitals within small geographic areas may serve as a template for improving the value of surgical care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024763.
Citation: Smith ME, Shubeck SP, Nuliyalu U .
Local referral of high-risk patients to high-quality hospitals: surgical outcomes, cost savings, and travel burdens.
Ann Surg 2020 Jun;271(6):1065-71. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000003208..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare Costs, Hospitals, Medicare, Outcomes
Hsuan C, Carr BG, Hsia RY
Assessment of hospital readmissions from the emergency department after implementation of Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was associated with changes in the probability of readmission at emergency department (ED) visits after hospital discharge (ED revisits) overall and depending on whether admission is typically indicated for the patient's condition at the ED revisit. Using hospital and ED discharge data from California, Florida, and New York, findings suggested that implementation of the HRRP was associated with a lower likelihood of readmission for recently discharged patients presenting to the ED, specifically for congestive heart failure. These findings highlighted the critical role of the ED in readmission reduction under the HRRP and suggested that patient outcomes after HRRP implementation merit further study.
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Hsuan C, Carr BG, Hsia RY .
Assessment of hospital readmissions from the emergency department after implementation of Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 May;3(5):e203857. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3857..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Hospital Readmissions, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Medicare
Sheetz KH, Chhabra K, Nathan H
The quality of surgical care at hospitals associated with America's highest-rated medical centers.
The objective of this study was to assess whether the quality of surgical care changes as hospitals form networks with established, high-quality medical centers. The investigators concluded that network formation was not associated with a significant improvement in quality or reduction in Medicare expenditures across all procedures studied for hospitals joining the networks of America’s highest rated medical centers.
AHRQ-funded; HS023597.
Citation: Sheetz KH, Chhabra K, Nathan H .
The quality of surgical care at hospitals associated with America's highest-rated medical centers.
Ann Surg 2020 May;271(5):862-67. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000003195..
Keywords: Surgery, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Medicare, Health Systems
Hoffman GJ, Yakusheva O
Association between financial incentives in Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program and hospital readmission performance.
This study compared the outcome of penalties versus rewards to prevent hospital readmission in Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). This retrospective cohort study used Medicare readmissions data from 2823 US short-term acute care hospitals participating in HRRP. Data from pre-HRRP in 2016 was compared with 2016-2019 3-year follow-up readmission performance classified by tertile of hospitals using baseline marginal incentives for 5 HRRP-targeted conditions: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and hip and/or knee surgery. Of the 2823 hospitals participating in HRRP from baseline to follow-up, 81% had more than 1 excess readmission for 1 or more applicable condition and 19% did not. Financial incentives ranged from a mean range of $8762 to $58,158 per 1 avoided readmission. Hospitals with greater incentives for readmission avoidance had greater decreases than hospitals with smaller incentives. An additional $5000 in the incentive amount was associated with up to a 26% decrease in readmissions. The findings suggest that incentives work better than penalties to reduce hospital readmissions for those 5 conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Hoffman GJ, Yakusheva O .
Association between financial incentives in Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program and hospital readmission performance.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Apr;3(4):e202044. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2044..
Keywords: Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Provider Performance, Payment, Health Insurance, Hospitals
Fahrenbach J, Chin MH, Huang ES
Neighborhood disadvantage and hospital quality ratings in the Medicare Hospital Compare Program.
This study examined the relationship between neighborhood social risk factors (SRFs) and hospital ratings in Medicare's Hospital Compare Program. Results showed that lower hospital summary scores were associated with caring for neighborhoods with higher social risk. Associations between neighborhood SRFs and hospital ratings were largest in the timeliness of care, patient experience, and hospital readmission groups and smallest in the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of care groups. Failing to account for neighborhood social risk in hospital rating systems may reinforce hidden disincentives to care for medically underserved areas in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS023007.
Citation: Fahrenbach J, Chin MH, Huang ES .
Neighborhood disadvantage and hospital quality ratings in the Medicare Hospital Compare Program.
Med Care 2020 Apr;58(4):376-83. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001283..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Hospitals, Medicare, Quality Indicators (QIs), Patient Experience, Social Determinants of Health
Myers LC, Faridi MK, Hasegawa K
The hospital readmissions reduction program and readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2006-2015.
In October 2012, the initial phase of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program imposed financial penalties on hospitals with higher-than-expected risk-adjusted 30-day readmission rates for Medicare beneficiaries with congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and pneumonia. In this study, the investigators hypothesized that these penalties may also be associated with decreased readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the general population before COPD became a target condition (October 2014).
AHRQ-funded; HS023305.
Citation: Myers LC, Faridi MK, Hasegawa K .
The hospital readmissions reduction program and readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2006-2015.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020 Apr;17(4):450-56. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201909-672OC..
Keywords: Respiratory Conditions, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Chronic Conditions, Medicare
Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Selden TM
Differences between public and private hospital payment rates narrowed, 2012-16.
In 2000-12 payments for inpatient hospital stays, emergency department visits, and outpatient hospital care for privately insured patients grew much faster than payments for Medicare and Medicaid patients. This widening of private-public payment gaps slowed or even reversed itself in 2012-16. In this paper, the author discusses the differences between public and private hospital payment rates, 2012-2016.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Selden TM .
Differences between public and private hospital payment rates narrowed, 2012-16.
Health Aff 2020 Jan;39(1):94-99. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00415..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Hospitals, Payment, Healthcare Costs, Medicaid, Medicare