Medicare Reports No Progress Reducing Hospital 30-Day Readmission Rates

Medicare data for hospital readmissions indicates little reduction in 30-day readmission rates between 2007 and 2011; during the five-year period about one in five Medicare patients returned to the hospital within 30 days of being discharged. In 2007, the national readmission rate was 192%; in 2008 it was 19.3%; in 2009 it was 19.4%; and in 2010, the readmission rate was 19.2%. The 2011 preliminary rate is 19.0%. National Medicare Readmission Rates 2007 to 2011 Dimension 2007 2008 2009 2010 Preliminary 2011 Readmission Rate 19.2% 19.3% 19.4% 19.2% 19.0 . . .