Reducing readmissions after a COPD exacerbation: a brief review

Abstract

CMS' Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was extended to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations in October 2014. HRRP penalizes hospitals if admissions for COPD exacerbations exceed a higher than expected all-cause 30-day readmission rate. Recently, a review of 191,698 Medicare readmissions after a COPD exacerbation reported that COPD explained only 27.6% of all readmissions. Patients were more likely to be readmitted if they were discharged home without home care, dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, and had more comorbidities (p<0.001 compared to patients not readmitted). Data on interventions is limited but recently a study of bundled interventions of smoking cessation counseling, screening for gastroesophageal reflux disease and depression or anxiety, standardized inhaler education, and a 48-h postdischarge telephone call did not result in a lower readmission rate. We conclude that there is limited evidence available on readmission risk factors, reasons for readmission and interventions that might reduce readmissions. In the absence of defined, validated interventions it seems likely that CMS's HRRP will be unsuccessful in reducing hospital readmissions after a COPD exacerbation.

Keywords

• readmission
• readmission rate
• COPD
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• CMS
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• home care
• extended care facility
• Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
• exacerbation