News: Delays in hospital’s ability to discharge patients increases strain on both parties, AHA reports

The average length-of-stay in hospitals has increased by about 19% for patients in 2022 compared to 2019, according to data from the healthcare consulting firm Strata Decision Technology. These delays in hospitals’ ability to discharge patients, as well as the negative consequences on both patients and hospitals, was stressed in a recent report released by the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Patients’ recovery time and health outcomes are negatively impacted by forcing them to stay in the hospital longer than medically necessary, instead of being discharged to post-acute providers in a timely manner who specialize in helping patients after hospitalization. Likewise, delays in discharge result in hospitals and health systems undergoing additional pressure on an already overwhelmed workforce and reduce overall community access to care.

Additional costs for hospitals are also associated with delays in discharge, as they do not receive reimbursement for any costs associated with the extra days caring for patients in the hospital while patients wait to be discharged. With hospitals’ expenses projected to have increased by $135 billion just in the last year, and 68% of hospitals ending the year operating at a financial loss, these additional costs add further strain during a time of historic inflation levels and workforce challenges.

“Hospitals and health systems are dedicated to providing patients with the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” said Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the AHA. “Delays in patient discharges create bottlenecks in the health care system, adding to the already overwhelming challenges facing our hospitals and caregivers. Temporary relief to overburdened hospitals and other providers will help ensure patients get the most appropriate care and will relieve stress on front-line health care workers.”

The AHA is asking Congress to establish a temporary per diem Medicare payment that would be targeted to hospitals to easy capacity issues. This would include acute, long-term care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric facilities and would be made for cases identified and assigned with a specific discharge code that falls under this type of long stays. The temporary solution would mitigate the effects when a patient is ready for discharge but is unable to do so appropriately.

Editor’s note: To read AHA’s press release on this topic, click here.