The first time federal health officials corrected their work on hospital penalties, it turns out, they goofed. So now they’re correcting it again. For some Florida hospitals, the latest correction is a good thing.
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services released its initial calculations in August 2012, then revised them in September. This month’s correction keeps the penalty the same or lowers it slightly for all but eight Florida hospitals, according to a data analysis by Kaiser Health News.
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Hialeah Hospital, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeside Medical Center, Memorial Hospital Miramar, Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center and Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation all saw their penalty inch up slightly. (See the complete list of Florida hospitals and their readmission penalties here)
Medicare began cutting payments to hospitals that had high rates of readmission Oct. 1, 2012.
Hospitals that still have to pay the highest penalty -- 1% -- are: Florida Hospital in Orlando and its affiliate Fish Memorial in Orange City; Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center in Polk County; Lake City Medical Center; Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines; Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood; Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg; Palm Springs General Hospital in Hialeah; Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah; and University of Miami Hospital.