Medicare to stop paying for malpractice

Starting today (October 1, 2008), Medicare will no longer pay for treatment caused by certain types of malpractice. 

“Reasonably preventable” conditions such as the following are included on Medicare’s list of medical conditions for which it will no longer provide payment:

• incompatible blood transfusions
• infections after certain surgeries
• operations to remove a sponge left inside of the patient
• bed sores
• injuries from falls
• urinary tract infections caused by catheters

The doctors and hospitals may not bill the patient directly for these expenses either.

It is possible that this policy will encourage doctors and hospitals to take greater care to avoid these situations.

For more details, see Kevin Sack, Medicare Won’t Pay for Medical Errors, NY Times, Oct. 1, 2008.