Medicare Pilot Seeks to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

Fourteen communities nationwide are participating in a pilot
project that aims to reduce Medicare costs by preventing frequent
hospital readmissions for chronically ill beneficiaries. According
to a report in Louisiana’s Baton Rouge
Advocate, whose home city is one of the pilot sites, the
program focuses on hospital discharge procedures involving patients
with pneumonia, heart attack and congestive heart failure. Under
the Care Transitions Project, patients meet with a “transition
coach” who will provide them with information about staying
healthy. Coaches help patients create a list of questions for their
primary care physician, develop a self-care plan and discuss
questions about medications. Patients meet with the coach before
leaving the hospital and 48 hours after they are discharged, with
additional follow-ups one week, two weeks and one month after being
discharged.