Ohio hospital readmission rates declining

Hospitals across the nation, including in Ohio, are doing a better job of slowing hospital readmissions, new federal data show (Source: “Hospital readmissions decline in Ohio, nationwide,” Columbus Dispatch, Sept. 21, 2016).

Ohio is one of 49 states reporting declines of patient readmissions, and among 11 where percentages fell by more than 10 percent between 2010 and 2015, according to data released by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Overall, Ohio tied with New York for the sixth-largest percentage reduction nationwide, with a 10.6 percent drop. Nationally, the average decrease was 8 percent, with only Vermont posting an increase, according to CMS officials. In total, 565,000 readmissions were avoided compared to if rates had stayed constant at 2010 levels.