Association Between Outpatient Visits Following Hospital Discharge and Readmissions Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Atrial Fibrillation and Other Chronic Conditions

A retrospective analysis of Medicare claims data examined the relationship between outpatient visits within 14 days after hospital discharge and readmission for beneficiaries with atrial fibrillation or other chronic conditions. About half of those beneficiaries with a hospitalization had an outpatient visit within 14 days of discharge. Readmission rates were 11 to 24 percent lower for beneficiaries with an outpatient visit than for those without one. These findings suggest that follow-up care shortly after discharge may lower readmissions for patients with atrial fibrillation or other chronic conditions.