http://nwpr.org en http://nwpr.org/post/state-agency-offering-help-during-last-week-medicare-open-enrollment <p></p><p>Medicare open enrollment season ends Friday for those looking to change or sign onto a health program. A Washington state agency has open arms for those scrambling for insurance advice. Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:29:52 +0000 Paige Browning 19231 at http://nwpr.org http://nwpr.org/post/medicare-docks-pay-hospitals-excessive-readmissions <p>About one out of five Medicare patients returns to the hospital within a month after being discharged. Those readmissions are often preventable. As Ruby de Luna reports, starting in October, Medicare will penalize hospitals with high readmission rates.</p><p>The new policy is part of the national health care law to reduce hospital readmissions. The goal is to reduce cost and improve patient care.</p><p>Dr. Nancy Fisher is Chief Medical Officer with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, for Region 10. She says three-quarters of these readmissions are preventable.</p> Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:01:36 +0000 Ruby de Luna 15868 at http://nwpr.org Medicare Docks Pay To Hospitals With Excessive Readmissions