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Hospital readmission rates for Medicare recipients categorized as potentially avoidable are higher amongst African and Hispanic Americans according to the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and the NORC (National Opinion Research Center) at the University of Chicago. A study was conducted along with CMS and results show that readmissions cost Medicare $26 billion annually with $17 billion of that being categorized as potentially avoidable. CMS urges the importance of equity in healthcare amongst racial and ethnic groups and is dedicated to educate Medicare recipients, doctors, and healthcare providers in an effort to close the gap. The organizations collaborated and created a guide promoting a call to action with specific directives to reduce hospital readmission rates for ethnically and racially diverse Medicare recipients. Some of the most common conditions for readmissions and 30-day readmission rates for African-American and Hispanic Americans combined are as follows:
- Acute Myocardial Infraction- 17.8%
- Congestive heart failure- 22.7%
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)- 20.7%
- Pneumonia- 17.3%
Directives to reduce these readmissions include:
- Identify root causes
- Start from the start- address the patients need and educate them from the beginning
- Focus on culturally competent, communication-sensitive, high-risk scenarios
- Deploy a team- create committees and teams to spearhead readmission reduction efforts
- Creating a Strong Radar- to identify those who are being readmitted
- Consider systems and social determinants
- Foster community partnerships to promote continuity of care
To read the full report, click on the link below:
Guide to Preventing Readmissions among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries