MIAMI -- Florida hospital officials say patients who have been hospitalized recently are 15 percent less likely to be readmitted as hospitals around the country try to improve quality and save money under the Affordable Care Act. Tuesday's report from the Florida Hospital Association comes five years after the state ranked among the worst in the nation for poor health outcomes and high costs. More than 100 Florida hospitals have saved $25 million in two years and prevented 1,500 readmissions. Surgical complications were reduced by 14.5 percent, saving more than $6 million during a 15-month period at 67 hospitals.
