CMS Data Brief: Sharp Reductions in Avoidable Hospitalizations Among LTC Facility Residents — Between 2010 and 2015, the hospitalization rate for six potentially avoidable conditions — bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections, congestive heart failure, dehydration, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, and skin ulcers decreased by 31 percent for Medicare and Medicaid dually-eligible beneficiaries living in long-term care facilities. That resulted in 133,000 fewer hospitalizations over the last 5 years.
In July 2015, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released Fast Stats, a new online tool from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project that provides access to the latest HCUP statistics from 41 states on numbers of hospital discharges by payer group (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured) and by condition category (surgical, mental health, injury, medical). Reporters can conduct state-by-state comparisons and analyze the effects of Medicaid expansion on hospital utilization levels and payment sources.
ICD-10 Conversion Tool
On Oct. 1, 2015, the United States began using Clinical Modification ICD-10-CM for diagnosis coding and Procedure Coding System ICD-10-PCS for inpatient hospital procedure coding. This tool offers free conversions of codes from the earlier ICD-9 system.