Many Oklahoma Hospitals Penalized Under Affordable Care Act

Over 70 percent of Oklahoma hospitals are being penalized under a provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Oklahoma has one of the highest percentages of hospitals being penalized for the patient care standards under the Affordable Care Act. Hospitals receive either more or less money from Medicare based on the quality of their care.

According to the Oklahoma Hospital Association, these penalties cost Oklahoma hospitals more than $3 million this year.

Fifty of Oklahoma's Hospitals are judged on their quality of care that includes re-admissions and now death rates. The hospitals then receive either Medicare bonuses or penalties depending on the hospital's score.

It's one piece of the Affordable Care Act to create financial incentives hospitals to provide better care.

"It does make sense for Medicare to pay for value, it's just what do they call value," said Oklahoma Hospital Association Vice President LaWanna Halstead.

Halstead says hospitals are required to report on 61 different quality control measures. Many are based on scientific proven processes. But 30 percent of the formula is patient perception. And she says that is the area where most Oklahoma Hospitals fall short.

"Noise, parking lot, some of those things we don't feel are all that important in the patient's day compared to the other issues," Halstead said.

Seventy-two percent Oklahoma Hospitals were penalized last year. Halstead says their organization works to help hospitals improve on areas that can be scientifically measured.

Halstead says the OHA also questions hospitals being graded on how many patients are re-admitted, because a lot of that responsibility belongs to the patient, their family and other outside medical staff, yet the hospital is penalized.

According to Kaiser Health News, nationally, more hospitals were penalized than received bonuses.

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