Hospitalists reduce stays, have little impact on cost
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients treated by hospitalists had slightly shorter lengths of stay, but costs for inpatient care were fairly similar to those care episodes supervised by general internists or family physicians. The study looked at nearly 77,000 cases at 45 hospitals to gather data. As compared with patients cared for by general internists, patients cared for by hospitalists had stays that were 0.4 days shorter, cost $268 less, but experienced similar inpatient rates of death and readmission rates after 14 days. As compared with patients cared for by family physicians, patients cared for by hospitalists had stays that were 0.4 days shorter, but their costs, inpatient rates of death and 14-day readmission rates were rated as similar.
Govs. seek delay in cuts to public, safety-net facilities
A letter from 30 state governors sought congressional support in stalling a plan by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reduce payments to public and other safety-net hospitals. The CMS proposals would have states take on a larger role in supporting such care and would reduce federal payments to these facilities by almost $4 billion over five years. The governors want Congress to support the extension of current moratoriums on the Government Provider Cost Limit and graduate medical education rules, and also stop the implementation of the proposed healthcare provider tax and other rule changes; the moratorium would expire in May.
Organizations join advisory panel for quality-cost program
More than 20 of the nation’s leading healthcare organizations will serve as advisors to a comprehensive program to improve patient safety and quality in the nation’s hospitals while reducing healthcare costs. The Premier healthcare alliance has announced the formation of an advisory panel for its “QUEST: High Performing Hospitals” program. The advisory panel will provide external guidance and direction to the project. Launched in October, QUEST is a three-year program through which more than 100 participating hospitals will report data on a set of clearly defined performance measures encompassing aspects of quality, efficiency, safety and the patient experience.