A financial ouch for hospitals

In an effort to improve patient care and to cut

costs, Medicare will stop reimbursing hospitals for the costs of treating certain medical errors and other preventable conditions.

When

Oct. 1, 2007: Bills to Medicare will begin indicating preexisting vs. hospital-acquired conditions.

Oct. 1, 2008: Medicare will end payments for conditions (listed below) that developed in the hospital; patients cannot be charged.

Local impact

Total cases of affected conditions (including preexisting) reported by all 66 general hospitals in the eight-county region last year:

Condition that will not be covered              Number of cases

Catheter-associated urinary-tract infections           362

Objects left in body during surgery                   46

Air embolism (obstructive air bubble)                     1

Incompatible blood type                                 9

Vascular catheter-associated infections*             2,033

Mediastinitis (infection after heart bypass)               11

Bedsores (pressure ulcers)** 10,890

Hospital-associated injuries (breaks, burns, etc.)    21,804

* 2006 data include more than catheters

** Excludes patients transferred from nursing homes, who often develop bedsores

SOURCES: Analysis by Inquirer staff writer Josh Goldstein of data from New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties) and Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties)