The effect of prospective payment on rehabilitative care

Deborah G. Dobrez, Anthony T. Lo Sasso, Allen W. Heinemann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dobrez DG, Lo Sasso AT, Heinemann AW. The effect of prospective payment on rehabilitative care. To estimate the difference between cost and prospective payment system (PPS) reimbursements for rehabilitation care and to simulate potential consequences of cost-reducing strategies. A retrospective study to estimate costs and functional status at discharge from care. An academic, urban, rehabilitation hospital. Stroke patients on their first admission to a rehabilitation hospital between 1994 and 1998. Not applicable. Cost was estimated from billing databases. Function was measured using the motor and cognitive components of the FIM instrument. PPS reimbursements were $10,825 (37%) lower than costs. No matter how much therapy was reduced, the costs were still greater than the mean PPS reimbursement. A reduction in length of stay by 9.6 days was required to bring costs in line with the PPS reimbursement, reducing discharge cognitive function by 1.1 points (P<.01). Use of group therapy brought costs close to PPS reimbursement amount and improved discharge cognitive function by 0.5 points (P<.10). Our study shows the large difference between costs and expected PPS reimbursements that would have been observed before the PPS. Institutions have many options that reduce costs, with little effect on function at discharge. Future studies should determine the impact of evolving reimbursement rules on facilities' financial status, and on patient outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1909-1914
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
Volume85
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2004

Funding

Supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (grant no. R03HS10375-01) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant no. H133A030807).

Keywords

  • Medicare
  • Prospective payment system
  • Rehabilitation
  • Stroke

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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