Patient Outcomes After Hospital Discharge to Home with Home Health Care vs to a Skilled Nursing Facility

In this study of more than 17 million Medicare hospitalizations between 2010 and 2016, patients discharged to home health care had a 5.6 percent higher 30-day readmission rate than similar patients discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). There was no difference in mortality or functional outcomes between the two groups, but home health care was associated with an average savings of $4,514 in total Medicare payments in the 60 days after the first hospital admission.