Researchers evaluated a randomized 20 percent sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years and older treated by a general internist in a hospital for a nonelective medical condition between Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2014.
Investigators compared Medicare Part B spending variation in hospitals, physicians and patients and with physician spending and patient outcome figures. The study primarily focused on patients’ 30-day mortality rate and readmission rate in 2013 and 2014.
Here are three points:
1. The researchers found higher physician spending was not correlated to lower 30-day mortality.
2. The findings did indicate more spending variation across individual physicians than across hospitals.
3. Based on these results, researchers found policymakers may reap more success in targeting physicians and hospitals to lower spending as opposed to focusing their sole efforts on targeting hospitals.
More articles on quality & infection control:
Why the hospital acquired infection market continues to grow — 5 key points
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ECRI Institute recommends 8 strategies for safe HIT use in patient identification
https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-quality-infection-control/ecri-institute-recommends-8-strategies-for-safe-hit-use-in-patient-identification.html
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