CMS Updates Medicare Readmissions Policy, Other Quality Initiatives

The agency finalized updates to the readmissions program and to its value-based purchasing program in its final inpatient prospective payment system rule, which takes effect Oct. 1.

Financial stakes will be higher next year for hospitals in meeting evolving Medicare initiatives to reduce readmissions and generally improve quality. But CMS will be more forgiving to hospitals in tabulating readmission rates as a basis for reducing payments in fiscal year 2014 under the Medicare readmissions reduction program.

CMS finalized updates to the readmissions program and to its value-based purchasing program in its final inpatient prospective payment system...

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