The current medical reimbursement landscape is changing and is being heavily
influenced by a patient-centric model. The key: keep individuals healthy while not
needing to readmit them into hospitals. It is now a well-documented reality in modern
civilization that medication prolongs, and in many cases, saves lives. However, the sad
truth today is that roughly half of the prescriptions written in the United States go unfilled
every year, which leads to the inference that this rate is much higher in the developing
world.
– Many patients are simply unaware that their medicine is due for a refill
– The pharmacy or physician never informs them
– Patient decides on an alternative medication therapy
As a result, all too many individuals go without potentially lifesaving medication on a
daily basis, and this is a tragedy of the system as it currently stands.
A report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that “One in eight Medicare
patients were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of being released after
surgery in 2010, while one in six patients returned to the hospital within a month of
leaving the hospital after receiving medical care. Patients were not significantly less
likely to be readmitted in 2010 than in 2008.” Furthermore, this report points out that
many readmissions can be avoided.
USNews and World Report stated in 2015 that “Half of U.S. Hospitals Face Medicare’s
Readmission Penalties” and that “Hospitals that readmit patients within a month of their
discharge face penalties under Medicare that cost them more than $400 million.”
This can all change with the rapid implementation of the pharmacy electronic medical records. Read more…
