The Alliance today released Working Paper #4 of the Clinically Advanced and Cost-Effective Placement (CACEP) research project, which examines hospital readmission and admission frequency and associated Medicare episode payments across three episode types: post-acute, pre-acute, and non-post-acute (community-based) care. Hospital readmissions and admissions were analyzed within the context of patients’ chronic conditions and demographic characteristics.
Key Findings
- Hospital readmissions increased Medicare episode payments by at least 100 percent.
- Patients with more severe primary chronic conditions tend to have more readmissions.
- 22.4% of post-acute care episodes have at least one readmission.
- Medicare post-acute care payments more than double when an episode contains at least one readmission, from an average payment of $15,335 without a readmission to $33,926 with a readmission.
Additional Working Paper #4 Resources
Full Report
Study Highlights
Executive Summary
Webinar
Presentation Slides
Home Health Implications
CACEP Working Paper #4 data suggest that better management of chronic disease across all three episode types through home health intervention could enable more patients to remain out of the hospital following an initial admission, or prevent avoidable hospitalizations all together. Clinically appropriate and cost effective care ultimately can improve the quality of patient care and reduce the cost for the Medicare program and taxpayers. Home health care combines the right mix of care management, prevention training and close observation to significantly reduce hospital admissions.
As lawmakers look into ways to reduce spending from hospital admissions and readmissions, how can home health be part of the conversation? Please comment below to submit your ideas.
Stay tuned for the release of the final paper of the Clinically Advanced and Cost-Effective Placement (CACEP) project this fall. Details coming soon!