Hospitals fined for patients returning

(WPRI) -- More than 2,000 hospitals -- including 9 in Rhode Island -- are being penalized by Medicare because many of their patients are re-admitted soon after discharge.

The penalties were released in a report published Aug. 13 by Kaiser Health News.

Here are the hospitals being penalized, and the percentages of their Medicare funding they'll lose:

• Memorial Hospital, 1.00%
• Rhode Island Hospital, 0.79%
• St. Joseph Health Services, 0.74%
• Miriam Hospital, 0.71%
• Kent County Memorial Hospital, 0.58%
• Roger Williams Medical Center, 0.14%
• South County Hospital, 0.12%
• Landmark Medical Center, 0.02%
• Newport Hospital, 0.01%

Memorial Hospital is facing the maximum penalty of one percent of their reimbursements. For example, if Memorial Hospital submits a claim to Medicare for a $20,000 stay, Medicare will only reimburse the hospital $19,800.

Westerly Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital are not being penalized.

The hospitals being penalized receive a combined $600 million or so a year in Medicare funds, the Hospital Association of Rhode Island told the Providence Business News.

Lifespan told PBN the hospital group is working to reduce re-admissions system-wide.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the hospitals' penalties would total $600 million.