Hospital Readmission Penalty Might be Increasing Mortality

Hospital Readmission Reduction Program and association penalties for higher than average/expected readmissions have resulted in a significant decrease in 30-day readmissions after hospital discharge. This also appears to have saved money to the CMS. When looking at the readmissions only, this programs appears to be a resounding success. However, its unintended consequences are becoming clear only now.

Using a national database of almost all hospitals, this study found that hospitals that were able to decrease readmission rates for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, also had an increase in mortality for such patients within 30-days after discharge. While the underlying mechanisms are open for speculation, this association needs to be taken seriously and possibility of a casual relationship needs to be explored.