New legislation introduced in Congress would add a risk adjustment component to Medicare’s hospital readmissions reduction program.
Such a measure would benefit Pennsylvania’s safety-net hospitals.
Bookshelf with law booksH.R. 4188, the Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, proposes modifying Medicare’s hospital readmissions reduction program.  Under the bill, hospitals’ performance in preventing Medicare readmissions would be risk-adjusted for patients who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; for patients who are considered non-compliant; for patients whose readmission has been classified as based on psychosis or substance abuse; and for patients who have specific medical conditions.
Hospitals found to have too many Medicare readmissions suffer financial penalties under Medicare’s hospital readmissions reduction program.  Recent studies suggest that in its current form, the program unfairly targets safety-net hospitals for financial penalties.
Learn more about the bill from this news release from its sponsor, Rep. James Renacci (R-Ohio), or find the bill itself here.