The Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has announced that 724 hospitals on the bottom score concerning patients that have adverse events during hospital stays will suffer financial penalties, the amount of which will vary based on readmissions. The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, established by the healthcare reform law, penalizes hospitals that fall within the worst-performing quartile, based on measures of adverse events occurring during hospital stays, such as pressure ulcers, pulmonary embolisms and certain types of healthcare-associated conditions.724 hospitals were in that bottom-scoring range for 2015 and will have their payments for all hospital discharges occurring after Oct. 1, 2014, reduced by 1%.
CMS says that overall payments would drop by roughly $330 million in 2015 due to the HAC program.
Teaching hospitals will be hit e hard because they treat large numbers of poor patients as well as indirect medical education payments.
Jeffrey Newman represents whistleblowers
