89% of Connecticut Hospitals Facing Reduced Medicare Reimbursements

Since 2013, hospitals throughout the state have been facing the reality that readmission rates will dictate whether their medicare reimbursements will be reduced.  This year, a staggering 89% of Connecticut hospitals will face that reality. 

New data provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reveals that most Connecticut hospitals will see their reimbursement rates decline due to poor patient readmission rates. 

Hospitals are reviewed on the readmission rates for patients who were seen within a 30-day period of time more than once for the following conditions:

• Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
• Elective primary total hip arthroplasty and/or total knee arthroplasty
• Pneumonia
• Heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Acute myocardial infarction

Payment reductions are done based on a rolling three-year performance period for each hospital that is reviewed.  The reductions in payments are capped at 3% annually and run from October 1st through September 30th.  This round of reductions covers the time period from June 2016 through June 2019.  Therefore, patients seen for COVID related illnesses were not included in the review.

The 89% of hospitals that will see reduced payments here in Connecticut is on the higher end of medical facilities nationwide as just over half of all facilities nationwide are seeing their payments reduced.  

It is so important to know how your hospital fares when you’re being seen for a procedure so you can avoid the chance of a Connecticut medical malpractice case.  If you suspect you have experienced malpractice, contact our office and our doctor/attorney and nurse/attorney can review your case.