Medicare readmissions have dropped nationwide, by 12.55 percent, according to CMS data, but communities with Quality Improvement Organizations saw a slightly larger drop in Medicare readmissions.
In communities with QIOs, hospital readmissions of Medicare beneficiaries dropped by 13.22 percent, according to a report by the Kansas Health Institute.
QIOs are private, mostly nonprofit organizations staffed by professionals trained to review medical care and help beneficiaries who have complaints about the quality of care. The QIO mission is to "improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy and quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries."
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