We explored various mechanisms by which the care
transitions intervention could be implemented under existing
financing within the US health delivery system. Under
Medicare Advantage payment structure, the financial
incentives for reducing hospital readmission are
closely aligned with the goals of the intervention. A Medicare
Advantage program may choose to implement the
intervention based on estimates that the cost savings associated
with the reduction in hospital readmissions exceed
the costs associated with conducting the intervention.
Under traditional fee-for-service Medicare, a hospital
that operates at high capacity may choose to invest in this
intervention to reduce hospital readmissions among complex
older patients who would otherwise occupy beds that
could be used to support patient care services generating
higher revenue. In addition, in certain states, advanced
practice nurse transition coaches can bill for the
home visits associated with this model, providing another
financing mechanism. Finally, a large ambulatory
clinic may choose to reassign a current registered or advanced
practice nurse to the transition coach role in an
attempt to improve overall clinic efficiency for posthospitalization
follow-up visits. Typically, these visits are inefficient,
with practitioners having to spend considerable
time attempting to understand what transpired in
the hospital, reconciling medications, and helping the
patient understand his or her role in self-care. Having a
transition coach to better prepare patients for their ambulatory
follow-up visits could enhance overall clinic productivity.