Medicare unveils rules for hospital quality bonuses

The shift in payment strategy will reward hospitals for the quality, rather than the quantity, of care they provide. The change was set in motion by the health law.

Los Angeles Times: New Medicare Payment Strategy to Reward Hospitals For High-Quality Care
The Obama administration issued a final regulation to reward hospitals that provide high-quality care, the first in a series of steps that are designed to fundamentally transform the way that the federal government pays for health care (Levey, 4/30).

Kaiser Health News: Medicare Announces Rules For Quality Bonuses To Hospitals
Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau reports: "Medicare took its broadest step yet in moving away from its traditional hospital payment method, finalizing a plan to alter reimbursements based on the quality of care hospitals provide and patients' satisfaction during their stays" (Rau, 4/29).

The Hill: Medicare To Start Paying Hospitals Based On Quality, Not Quantity
Medicare will begin to reward hospitals for the quality, rather than the quantity, of care they provide under new regulations released Friday. The changes were called for in the health care reform law that was enacted last year. Health experts say the U.S. spends much more on health care than any other country without getting better outcomes in return, in large part because Medicare reimburses doctors and physicians for the number of tests and procedures they do, rather than their performance (Pecquet, 4/29).

Reuters: U.S. Hospitals To Get Cash Boost For Better Care
U.S. hospitals that improve medical care for elderly patients, and reduce deadly errors, will get millions of dollars under an incentive program launched on Friday that aims to cut overall Medicare costs (Smith, 4/29).