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Severity of illness at readmission increased incidence, costs of TJA
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Among patients readmitted to the hospital following total joint arthroplasty, incidence of readmission and costs increased as severity of illness increased, according to study results.
Researchers identified 2,026 Medicare patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty from 2008 to 2012 and were readmitted within 30 days after discharge. All Medicare Part A Payments (MPAP) for initial admission and direct costs incurred after readmission were gathered, including implant costs, hospital room and board, medications and medical supplies. The researchers calculated the 30-day readmission rate, the total and average MPAP and direct costs of readmission for each severity of illness (SOI) group, and the readmission burden and cost ratio.
The researchers calculated the average cost of readmission to be $12,781 for SOI minor patients, $17,575 for SOI moderate patients, $19,120 for SOI major patients and $21,216 for SOI extreme patients.
The percentage of admission payments represented by readmission costs were 3.58% in minor, 3.14% in moderate, 5.56% in major and 18.45% in extreme SOI patients, according to the researchers.
Additionally, readmission burden / readmission rates were 0.79 for minor, 1.18 for moderate, 1.08 for major and 0.71 for extreme SOI patients.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
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