For-profit hospitals linked to higher readmission rates

Editor's Note

Patients who receive care in for-profit hospitals are more likely to be readmitted than patients in nonprofit public hospitals, this study finds.

Using data from 14,307 hospital reports from the national Hospital Readmission Reduction Program for six major diseases, including coronary artery bypass grafting and total hip and knee surgeries, researchers found there was a statistically significant difference in readmission rates based on type.

In each category, for-profit hospitals had the highest mean and median readmission ratios.

The findings show an important national trend to which policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and patients should pay attention, the authors say. It is important to conduct additional studies to understand the effect of provider ownership on patient outcomes.