Dozens of Georgia hospitals are facing federal fines

Georgia Health News reports the fines are for excessive return visits within 30 days of discharge.

However, some medical officials say these facilities are getting blamed unfairly.

“The hospital doesn’t have control over what happens to a patient once that patient is home and fails to take his medication, or fails to follow doctor’s orders or things like that.  And guess who is at fault?  According to the federal government, it’s the hospitals,” says Kevin Bloye, a spokesman for the Georgia Hospital Association.

Bill Rencher, with Georgia Watch, says these fines may convince hospitals to develop partnerships with community organizations, post-discharge.

“Those issues could be treated in an out-patient setting, or by perhaps a visit by a nurse, and that would be much less expensive than that person coming back to the hospital needlessly.”

Nearly three-dozen of Georgia’s hospitals weren’t penalized in 2013.

“It’s something that Georgia hospitals are tuned into and are making tremendous strides in reducing re-admissions,” says Bloye.

He also says the state fares well, overall, compared to the national average.

Georgia Health News says the list of fined hospitals are spread throughout the state.