According to a recent Connecticut Health Investigative Team article, 23 of the state’s 31 hospitals will face Medicare penalties in fiscal year (FY) 13 for readmitting too many patients within one month of their discharge. Of the 23 hospitals, four will face the highest penalty allowed under federal law: (1% of their base Medicare reimbursements) (1) Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven , (2) Griffin Hospital in Derby , (3) Masonic Home and Hospital in Wallingford , and (4) MidState Medical Center in Meriden
The federal health care reform law allows the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to withhold part of a hospital’s Medicare payments if they have high 30-day readmission rates for patients hospitalized for pneumonia, heart attacks, and heart failure. Penalties are based on patient readmission data between July 2008 and June 2011. Up to 1% of a hospital’s Medicare payment can be withheld in FY 13, increasing up to 3% in FY 15.
The eight hospitals not facing any penalties include (1) Backus Hospital , (2) Hartford Hospital , (3) Hebrew Home and Hospital in West Hartford, (4) Manchester Memorial Hospital, (5) Middlesex Hospital , (6) Rockville General Hospital , (7) Sharon Hospital , and (8) Windham Community Memorial Hospital
