Key result
The CMS-derived 30-day readmission measure identified only 2% of VA hospitals as having worse-than-average rates for heart failure and 0% for AMI or pneumonia, suggesting it may not be useful to distinguish interfacility performance.
Why the study?
The study examined the interfacility variability of 30-day risk-standardized readmission rates for AMI, HF, and pneumonia to assess their utility for VA quality improvement and hospital comparison.
Does the CMS-derived 30-day risk-standardized readmission rate metric effectively distinguish interfacility performance in the Veterans Health Administration?
Observational (n=24,371)
Yes
Does the CMS-derived 30-day risk-standardized readmission rate metric effectively distinguish interfacility performance in the Veterans Health Administration?
The CMS-derived 30-day readmission measure shows little interfacility variation in the VA system and may not be useful for distinguishing hospital performance or driving quality improvement due to low facility-level volume.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
CMS readmission metrics flag few VA outliers; leaves open their utility for distinguishing performance or guiding improvement in low-volume settings.
BACKGROUND: The Veterans Health Administration (VA) reports hospital-specific 30-day risk-standardized readmission rates (RSRRs) using CMS-derived models. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine and describe the interfacility variability of 30-day RSRRs for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), and pneumonia as a means to assess its utility for VA quality improvement and hospital comparison. RESEARCH DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of VA and Medicare claims data using one-year (2012) and three-year (2010-2012) data given their use for quality improvement or for hospital comparison, respectively. SUBJECTS: This study included 3,571 patients hospitalized for AMI at 56 hospitals, 10,609 patients hospitalized for HF at 102 hospitals, and 10,191 patients hospitalized for pneumonia at 106 hospitals. MEASURES: Hospital-specific 30-day RSRRs for AMI, HF, and pneumonia hospitalizations were calculated using hierarchical generalized linear models. RESULTS: Of 164 qualifying VA hospitals, 56 (34%), 102 (62%), and 106 (64%) qualified for analysis based on CMS criteria for AMI, HF, and pneumonia cohorts, respectively. Using 2012 data, we found that two hospitals (2%) had CHF RSRRs worse than the national average (+95% CI), whereas no hospital demonstrated worse-than-average risk-stratified readmission Rate (RSRR; +95% CI) for AMI or pneumonia. After increasing the number of facility admissions by combining three years of data, we found that four (range: 3.5%-5.3%) hospitals had RSRRs worse than the national average (+95% CI) for all three conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-derived 30-day readmission measure may not be a useful measure to distinguish VA interfacility performance or drive quality improvement given the low facility-level volume of such readmissions.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wray et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia (n=24,371). VA hospital admission vs. National average was evaluated on Hospitals with 30-day risk-standardized readmission rates worse than the national average (+95% CI) for AMI, HF, or pneumonia. The CMS-derived 30-day readmission measure identified only 2% of VA hospitals as having worse-than-average rates for heart failure and 0% for AMI or pneumonia, suggesting it may not be useful to distinguish interfacility performance.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: