What outcome does the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) target and how does it affect hospitals?

• A. Targets 30-day readmissions for selected conditions; penalties for high readmission rates.
• B. Targets 60-day readmissions; bonuses for low readmissions.
• C. Focuses on emergency department visits only.
• D. Only penalizes hospitals with zero readmissions.

Answer: (A)

HRRP targets 30-day readmissions after discharge for a defined set of conditions, and it uses penalties to reduce hospitals’ Medicare payments when those readmission rates are higher than expected. This creates a financial incentive for hospitals to improve care transitions, discharge planning, and post-discharge follow-up to prevent avoidable readmissions. It is not about 60-day readmissions, emergency department visits alone, or bonuses, and the focus is on penalizing higher-than-expected 30‑day readmission rates.