Medicare Won’t Cover Hospital Errors

"In a significant policy change, Bush administration officials say that Medicare will no longer pay the extra costs of treating preventable errors, injuries and infections that occur in hospitals, a move they say could save lives and millions of dollars." (NY Times, August 19, 2007)

Estimates of projected savings range from $20 million a year to much more. More significantly, private health insurers are considering similar changes and may follow Medicare's lead.