We still have several hurdles to jump before healthcare reform becomes a reality but despite the work ahead of Congress, hospitals and their leaders need to prepare for changes coming down the pipeline.
Payment reform is almost certain to be a part of any final healthcare legislation and hospitals need to get ready for this change.
A recent article in Healthcare Finance News discusses the issue. It is a good read and gives a high-level overview of the topic.
Here are some of the changes hospitals can expect:
- Hospital payments tied to performance by 2013
- Hospital payments potentially reduced by 20 percent if patients are readmitted within seven days of leaving a hospital
- Hospitals penalized for hospital-acquired infection rates in the top 25th percentile
Healthcare providers need to prepare for these sweeping changes and for a move toward accountable care organizations. It is not a question of if change will happen. It is simply a matter of time.
Frankly, our healthcare system can no longer operate the way it does today.
Let us know what you are doing to get ready. We all need to learn from each other as these changes begin.
This post first appeared at Action for Better Healthcare.