AARP Questions Medicare Hip and Knee Data

The AARP Public Policy Institute published a study, “Impact of the Medicare Hospital Readmission Reduction Program on Hospital Readmissions Following Joint Replacement Surgery” in its October issue. The instituted aimed to “determine whether readmission rates for elective knee and hip replacements decreased in the years immediately prior to CMS’ first application of the Medicare readmission reduction program fines.” Orthopedics This Week reported that the study questioned the Medicare data as “lead author, Leigh Pervis, director of health services at the AARP Public Policy Institute, noted that the drop in readmission rates was only for patients on Medicare. For younger patients, those too young to be on Medicare but undergoing the same surgery, the study turned out differently.” Full study.