News: JAMA study examines relationship between readmission and mortality rates

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has led to fewer 30-day readmissions, this reduction in readmissions does not correlate with 30-day mortality rates, according to a recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The study examined more than 5 million Medicare admissions from 2008–2014 for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and pneumonia, JustCoding reported. It revealed that 30-day readmission and mortality rates “were weakly but significantly correlated.”

Researchers concluded that an increase in post-discharge death rates would not result in a reduction in readmission rates. In fact, the lead study author stated in an announcement that reduced readmissions may actually lead to a decrease in post-discharge deaths in some cases.

The possible correlation may be because many hospitals have increased their focus on hospital and post-hospital care by better preparing patients for discharge, following up with patients in a timelier manner, and communicating more effectively with outpatient providers, according to the lead author.

This study follows the recent report by JAMA that identified index readmissions for adults 18 and older who had an unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge with a diagnosis of either AMI, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, pneumonia, or sepsis.

At the time, the study found the following percentages for readmissions within 30 days:

• 12.2%, sepsis
• 6.7%, heart failure
• 5.2%, pneumonia
• 4.6%, COPD
• 1.2%, AMI

CMS currently tracks readmissions for AMI, COPD, heart failure, and pneumonia since the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program penalizes hospitals if they have high readmissions rates for these conditions.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in JustCoding. To read ACDIS’ coverage of the sepsis-related readmissions study conducted by JAMA this year, click here. To read the new JAMA study about the link between readmissions and mortality, click here.