Examine 30‐day readmission rates for indicator conditions before and after adoption of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).
California hospital discharge data, 2005 to 2014.
Estimated difference between pre‐HRRP trends and post‐HRRP rates of hospital readmissions after hospitalization for indicator conditions targeted by the HRRP (heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia) by payer among insured adults.
Post‐HRRP, reductions occurred for the three conditions among Fee‐for‐Service (FFS) Medicare. Readmissions decreased for heart attack and heart failure in Medicare Managed Care (MC). No reductions were observed in the younger commercially insured.
Post‐HRRP, greater than expected reductions occurred in rehospitalizations for patients with Medicare FFS and Medicare MC. HRRP incentives may be influencing system‐wide changes influencing care outside of traditional Medicare.
