How Do Medicaid Readmission Rates Compare To Other Payers?

We recently reported on Medicaid hospital readmissions (see 17.9% Medicaid Readmission Rate For Mental & Behavioral Disorders In 2009-2010). A reader asked how Medicaid readmissions for behavioral health conditions compared to other payers. Little research has focused on readmissions for this subset of Medicaid services — in large part because most research (and recommendations) for reducing readmissions are based on studies of an older adult (largely Medicare) population. But an exploration of datasets compiled and published by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) does offer some insights.

At a high level, readmission rates for behavioral health . . .