Having Hip Surgery at a VA Hospital Can Mean Avoiding a Nursing Home Stay

How health care is paid for appears to impact outcome 02/25/10. Whether an individual is treated for a hip fracture at a hospital reimbursed by Medicare or is treated at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center makes a significant difference in what happens to the patient after release from the medical facility, according to a large study which may contribute to the ongoing debate on how to pay for health care. The seven–year study, which appears in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, found that while 49 percent of those who had a Medicare reimbursed procedure went to nursing homes, only 35 percent of those treated at VA facilities were discharged to a nursing home. The complete explanation for this difference requires future study of institutional differences, patient transitions between care settings, and other issues as well as reimbursement policies. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association via Eurekalert!