Key result
The HRRP expansion to include joint replacements did not lead to greater reductions in postoperative readmissions among hospitals at high risk of penalties compared to low-risk hospitals (p=0.35).
Why the study?
Little was known about the impact of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program expansion to include readmissions following elective primary total hip and knee replacements.
Does a higher risk of penalties from the HRRP expansion reduce 30-day readmission rates following joint replacement surgeries in acute care hospitals?
Population
2,326 acute care hospitals
Comparison
Hospitals at risk of large HRRP penalties vs smaller penalties
Design
Retrospective observational study using Hospital Compare data sets
Follow-up
30-day readmissions assessed across July 2009 to June 2016
Authors
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HRRP penalty risk showed no differential effect on readmission declines after joint replacement expansion; leaves open whether incentives effectively target high-risk hospitals.
Observational (n=2,326)
Yes
Does a higher risk of penalties from the HRRP expansion reduce 30-day readmission rates following joint replacement surgeries in acute care hospitals?
Absolute Event Rate: 0.98% vs 0.94%
p-value: p=0.35
The HRRP expansion to include joint replacements did not lead to greater reductions in postoperative readmissions among hospitals at higher risk of penalties compared to those at lower risk.
Thirukumaran et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Hip and knee replacement readmissions (n=2,326). High risk of HRRP penalties (highest proportion of Medicare revenues) vs. Low risk of HRRP penalties (lowest proportion of Medicare revenues) was evaluated on Hospital-level, 30-day, risk-standardized readmission rate following joint replacement surgical procedures (p=0.35). The HRRP expansion to include joint replacements did not lead to greater reductions in postoperative readmissions among hospitals at high risk of penalties compared to low-risk hospitals (p=0.35).
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