42 U.S.C. § 280j-3 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 42. The Public Health and Welfare § 280j-3. Quality improvement program for hospitals with a high severity adjusted readmission rate

(1)In general

Not later than 2 years after March 23, 2010, the Secretary shall make available a program for eligible hospitals to improve their readmission rates through the use of patient safety organizations (as defined in section 299b-21(4) of this title).

(2)Eligible hospital defined

In this subsection, the term “eligible hospital” means a hospital that the Secretary determines has a high rate of risk adjusted readmissions for the conditions described in section 1395ww(q)(8)(A) of this title and has not taken appropriate steps to reduce such readmissions and improve patient safety as evidenced through historically high rates of readmissions, as determined by the Secretary.

(3)Risk adjustment

The Secretary shall utilize appropriate risk adjustment measures to determine eligible hospitals.