The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that Medicaid will no longer reimburse for about two dozen “never events” in hospitals, such as operating on the wrong body part. Medicare implemented the same policy in 2008.
According to Donald Berwick, Adminstrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): “These steps will encourage health professionals and hospitals to reduce preventable infections, and eliminate serious medical errors. As we reduce the frequency of these conditions, we will improve care for patients and bring down costs at the same time.”
Dr. Michael Maves, CEO of the American Medical Association, provided comments to CMS in March, which he said “Simply not paying for complications or conditions, that, while extremely regrettable, are not entirely preventable, is a blunt approach that is not effective or wise for patients or the Medicare or Medicaid program.”
Read the full CMS report CMS-2400-F by clicking here.