The Impact of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program across Insurance Types in California

Abstract

Objective: Examine 30-day readmission rates for indicator conditions before and after adoption of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).

Data: California hospital discharge data, 2005 to 2014.

Study design: Estimated difference between pre-HRRP trends and post-HRRP rates of hospital readmissions after hospitalization for indicator conditions targeted by the HRRP (heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia) by payer among insured adults.

Principal findings: Post-HRRP, reductions occurred for the three conditions among Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. Readmissions decreased for heart attack and heart failure in Medicare Managed Care (MC). No reductions were observed in the younger commercially insured.

Conclusions: Post-HRRP, greater than expected reductions occurred in rehospitalizations for patients with Medicare FFS and Medicare MC. HRRP incentives may be influencing system-wide changes influencing care outside of traditional Medicare.

Keywords: Medicare; readmission; reduction.