Thirty-Day Postdischarge Mortality Among Black and White Patients 65 Years and Older in the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program

Key Points Question In the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, did mortality from all causes increase during the 30 days after hospital discharge among black vs white patients 65 years and older? Findings In a cohort study using a time-series analysis including 3263 acute care hospitals, short-term mortality decreased more among black patients than white patients with acute myocardial infarction. Mortality increased among white patients with heart failure, but trends over time did not differ between black and white patients; and mortality trends over time were stable and similar between black and white patients with pneumonia. Meaning This study suggests that value-based payment policy was not associated with an increase in mortality among black populations, but causes of increasing mortality among white patients warrant investigation.