Michigan hospitals and insurance companies work together to reduce readmissions

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the University of Michigan and the Society of Hospital Medicine are working with area hospitals and physicians groups on a project to reduce preventable readmissions and emergency room visits. Unnecessary readmissions to hospitals cost millions of dollars each year.

The readmission reduction project involves developing, implementing and measuring programs that reduce the number of readmissions to the hospital within 30 days of patient discharge.  

(Sources: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, http://kaiserhealthnews.org, May 14, 2010; Crain’s Detroit Business, http://crainsdetriot.com, May 13, 2010)