Reducing Readmissions Part 1: Understanding the Landscape

Course overview

Hospital readmissions continue to pose a major challenge to healthcare quality, cost containment, and patient outcomes. This course provides foundational insight into the structure, history, and impact of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), examining how hospital readmissions became a national quality metric and target for value-based reimbursement. Learners will explore the definition and implications of readmissions, the evolution of CMS policy, and the financial penalties and quality ratings tied to excess readmissions. This course is intended for healthcare professionals across acute, ambulatory, and postacute care settings who are involved in discharge planning, transitional care, and quality improvement efforts. By understanding the underlying policy drivers and system-level outcomes, participants will be better equipped to assess their organization's performance and implement strategies that reduce avoidable readmissions.