CMS defines nine more hospital “errors”

Last year CMS, in an ill conceived policy change, rolled out a list of hospital acquired conditions which could no longer be coded to increase DRG reimbursement, defining these conditions as “never events.” The media egregiously spun the issue as “Medicare no longer paying for mistakes.” I pointed out how manifestly unfair this was in several posts last year.

Now they’ve added nine more to the list for consideration. Included in the new list of “medical mistakes” are iatrogenic pneumothorax, Legionella infection and delirium.

Well, I’m at a loss for words, so go read what Bob Wachter and DB have to say about it.