Study finds hospital readmissions are frequent and costly

A Commonwealth-Fund supported study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that one of five Medicare beneficiaries discharged from the hospital are readmitted within 30 days, and half of patients admitted for reasons other than surgery are readmitted without having seen a doctor in follow-up. All together, unplanned rehospitalizations cost Medicare $17.4 billion in 2004. The researchers recommend strategies for reducing readmissions such as planned transitions, timely follow-up, and aggressive chronic disease management.

• Rehospitalizations Among Patients in the Medicare Fee-for-Service Program