January 2012
Cardiovascular Performance
December 2011
Preventive Care
November 2011
Hospital Selection
October 2011
Financial Trends
September 2011
Mental Health, Substance Abuse Costs
August 2011
Healthcare Online Trends
July 2011
Costs of Care
June 2011
Hospital Performance
May 2011
Workforce Wellness
April 2011
Outpatient Trends
March 2011
Hospital-Based Care
February 2011
Healthcare Spending
January 2011
Cardiovascular Service
December 2010
Healthcare Reform: Utilization
November 2010
Healthcare Reform: Readmissions
October 2010
Healthcare Reform: Medicaid
September 2010
Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index
August 2010
Wellness Pays
July 2010
Hospital Performance
June 2010
Financial Trends
May 2010
Ambulatory Surgery Trends
April 2010
Orthopedic Trends
March 2010
Niche Technologies
February 2010
Outpatient Trends

Sponsored by

HealthLeaders magazine, October 13, 2008

Present-On-Admission Indicators

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed expanding the list of conditions that are reasonably preventable through proper care and for which CMS will no longer pay at a higher rate if the patient acquires them during a hospital stay. Such conditions—including ventilator-associated pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, certain surgical site infections, and others—can add considerable costs to medical care and result in significant deaths. One study estimates that under CMS rule changes regarding five preventable conditions, the total estimated reimbursement amount for all patients nationwide will be roughly $91 million for fiscal year 2009—an average decline per hospital of more than $23,000. Provider organizations clearly have much at stake as they develop processes for documenting conditions as present on admission.