Watchdog sees nursing home hospitalization variations

The inspectors found that average statewide annual resident hospitalization rates ranged from less than about 23 percent for homes in states like Alaska, Arizona and Maine to about 40 percent for homes in Louisiana.

Other annual hospitalization rate findings:

• The average resident hospitalization rate is about 26 percent at homes that get an inspection rating of three or fewer stars on a five-star scale, and about 23 percent at homes that get an inspection rating of four or five stars.
• The average is about 23 percent at homes with fewer than 80 beds and about 27 percent at homes with more than 120 beds.
• The average is 26 percent at for-profit homes, 23 percent at government-owned homes and 21 percent at nonprofit homes.

See also:

• States experimenting with health cost programs
• Florida hospitals cutting readmissions
• Researcher: Set up ACOs that include long-term care