A new statewide report finds Massachusetts may have wasted as much as $27 billion on unnecessary medical expenses in 2012.
The report by the Health Policy Commission estimates that nearly four out of every $10 spent on health care in Massachusetts is wasted. One of the largest parts of that – about $700 million - went towards readmitting hospital patients who could have stayed home if they’d had better discharge planning.
Lynne Nicholas, president of the Massachusetts Hospitals Association, said this is something hospitals are trying to address.
“Discharging someone from the hospital and having them remain at home is a very complicated process that requires many steps on the hospital end and patient compliance. It has to do with the home environment, the patients ability to be compliant to the requirements they’re given to take their meds …”
The report said hospitals also wasted money on ER visits which could have been avoided with better primary care, inappropriate tests for low back pain and inducing labor early in women.
