Health care in America is exceedingly expensive, which means that any new programs that stem from health care reform have work cut out for them. Preventative medicine would ideally keep individuals out of hospitals, but the sad truth is that Americans on Medicare are re-entering hospitals nearly as quickly as they're discharged. According to a 2009 study by the New England Journal of Medicine, one-fifth of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. In 90 days, one-third of patients have bounced back into care for the same problems. After a year, a frightening 67 percent are back – or dead.

Constant re-admission is a tremendous financial drain

Medicare cost America $17.4 billion in 2004, writes the Huffington Post. That money black hole forced Medicare to start paying closer attention to which hospitals had the highest bounce-back rate of re-admission. Top offenders were penalized financially. The waste even spawned a new industry where private companies would analyze those hospitals in need of change. These efficiency experts no doubt have many clients, as surveys show that 75 percent of re-admits are avoidable if proper care is given within the first place.

Hospitals and nursing facilities point fingers at one an additional

Lack of communication between acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities is a common thread in just how likely a patient is to stay away from rebounding back into care. Not providing enough patient and medication info, neglecting follow-up appointments and providing confusing or contradictory patient care instructions are just some of the major difficulties America's health care system faces, writes the Post. Older patients on Medicaid who are passed back and forth between care facilities tend to be probably the most vulnerable victims caught within the crossfire.

Medicare and private insurance work with blinders on

The Huffington Post cites an American Geriatric Society study that shows that Medicare and private insurance companies are "pushing very hard" to have stroke rehab patients admitted to skilled nursing facilities instead of inpatient rehab centers. Lower first cost is the reason, but what the insurers fail to see is the significance of a re-admit rate that is seven times higher within the skilled nursing option. Medicare and private insurance businesses must learn to see beyond the low initial cost, because it will likely save millions, say critics.

Get the answers you need

Patients and those who care about them must ask doctors questions in order to assess the risk of future re-admittance. This is why it is vitally significant that patients (Medicare or otherwise) and their loved ones question doctors concerning the risk of re-admission, and for making sure they understand the necessary care going forward. If you'd like more data on what questions to ask, check out the Huffington Post article.

Find more information on this subject

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/richard-c-senelick-md/the-bounce-back-effect-ho_b_677575.html