CHIA Publishes New Report on Hospital Readmissions in Massachusetts
DATE: December 18, 2019
CHIA today released its most recent analysis of unplanned hospital readmissions in Massachusetts in Hospital-Wide Adult All-Payer Readmissions in Massachusetts: SFY 2011-2018. This report provides a statewide look at readmissions from Massachusetts acute care hospitals, enabling insights into statewide, regional, and hospital-specific readmission rates, including breakdowns by payer type, discharge setting, and hospital characteristics.
Key findings from the report:
- The unplanned, all-payer readmission rate for Massachusetts acute care hospitals is unchanged from last year (15.4% in both 2017 and 2018).
- Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries had higher readmission rates than patients with commercial insurance (17.8%, 16.4%, and 9.8%, respectively).
- Medicare patients aged 65 and over had the highest total number of readmissions; Medicare patients under 65 had the highest rate of readmission (22.0%).
- Frequently hospitalized patients (patients hospitalized four or more times in the previous 12 months) accounted for over half (52%) of all readmissions.
- Over one-third (35%) of readmissions occur within one week of initial discharge.
- Readmission rates for patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities or rehabilitation have increased in the last three years.
This report is also accompanied by a databook, a technical appendix, and an infographic.
