The Bush Administration announced on Saturday that Medicare will no longer pay hospitals for injuries and errors traditionally deemed “preventable,” reports the Washington Post. This is good news for consumers as it will force hospitals to introduce efficiences and adhere best practices. These errors are things like bed sores, infections, slip and fall injuries, and the costs of leaving surgical instruments inside patients after surgery. And perhaps most importantly, a provision in the new rules forbids passing on the costs of preventable errors to consumers. The decision will also save the Medicare program millions of dollars.

Medicare No Longer to Pay for Preventable Hospital Errors, Injuries or Infections [Washington Post]

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