GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hospital Readmission Statistics

Hospital readmission rates vary but have slowly declined over the past decade.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Heart failure patients aged 65-74 had a 22.1% 30-day readmission rate in Medicare FY2022.

Statistic 2

Acute myocardial infarction readmission rate for Black patients was 18.7% vs 15.9% White in 2021.

Statistic 3

COPD exacerbation readmissions reached 23.4% within 30 days in 2020.

Statistic 4

Pneumonia readmission for patients over 85 was 20.3% in 2019.

Statistic 5

Sepsis survivors had 26.7% readmission rate at 30 days post-discharge in 2021.

Statistic 6

CABG patients readmitted within 30 days: 11.2% due to infections in 2020.

Statistic 7

Stroke ischemic readmission rate was 13.5% for Medicare in FY2021.

Statistic 8

Hip fracture surgery readmissions: 9.8% within 30 days in 2022.

Statistic 9

Total knee arthroplasty 30-day readmission was 2.5% in 2021.

Statistic 10

Diabetes with complications readmission rate: 19.2% in 2019.

Statistic 11

End-stage renal disease readmissions post-transplant: 30.1% at 30 days.

Statistic 12

Atrial fibrillation readmissions: 16.8% within 30 days in 2020.

Statistic 13

Cellulitis readmission rate was 14.6% for Medicare in 2021.

Statistic 14

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage readmissions: 13.9% at 30 days in 2019.

Statistic 15

Psychotic disorder readmissions averaged 21.5% within 30 days.

Statistic 16

Alcohol-related readmissions: 18.3% post-detox in 2020.

Statistic 17

COVID-19 pneumonia readmission: 15.2% within 30 days in 2021.

Statistic 18

Pancreatitis acute readmissions: 12.7% at 30 days.

Statistic 19

Uterine cancer readmissions post-hysterectomy: 8.4%.

Statistic 20

Lung cancer resection readmissions: 10.2% within 30 days.

Statistic 21

Prostatectomy readmissions: 5.6% at 30 days in 2021.

Statistic 22

Cholecystectomy readmissions: 3.1% post-laparoscopic.

Statistic 23

Appendectomy readmissions dropped to 1.8% in 2020.

Statistic 24

Colorectal surgery readmissions: 11.5% within 30 days.

Statistic 25

Coronary angioplasty readmissions: 7.9% at 30 days.

Statistic 26

Valve replacement readmissions: 12.3% post-TAVR in 2021.

Statistic 27

Obesity-related readmissions: 16.4% for bariatric surgery.

Statistic 28

Hospital readmissions cost Medicare $17.4 billion in penalties and excess payments in 2019.

Statistic 29

Each HF readmission averaged $14,250 in costs for Medicare in 2021.

Statistic 30

30-day readmissions accounted for 17% of total Medicare hospital spending.

Statistic 31

Reducing readmissions by 1% could save $1.2 billion annually.

Statistic 32

HRRP saved Medicare $2.8 billion from 2010-2020.

Statistic 33

COPD readmissions cost $41 billion yearly in the US.

Statistic 34

Post-surgical readmissions increased length of stay by 4.3 days on average.

Statistic 35

Readmitted patients had 27% higher 1-year mortality.

Statistic 36

Sepsis readmissions linked to 35% increased mortality risk.

Statistic 37

HF readmission patients mortality at 1 year: 36.2% vs 22.4% non-readmitted.

Statistic 38

Average cost per readmission: $15,200 for pneumonia in 2020.

Statistic 39

AMI readmissions cost $12,800 each on average.

Statistic 40

Elective surgery readmissions added $4.4 billion in unnecessary costs yearly.

Statistic 41

Rural hospital readmissions cost 12% more per case.

Statistic 42

26% of readmissions deemed potentially preventable, costing $17 billion.

Statistic 43

Readmissions reduced hospital star ratings, impacting $1.9 billion reimbursements.

Statistic 44

Post-discharge mortality within 30 days: 8.7% for readmitted patients.

Statistic 45

Chronic disease readmissions linked to 50% higher 90-day costs.

Statistic 46

Interventions saving one readmission per 100 discharges: $300k annual savings per hospital.

Statistic 47

Medicare Advantage plans had 11% lower readmission rates, saving $500 million.

Statistic 48

SNF readmissions cost Medicare $2.4 billion extra in 2018.

Statistic 49

Patient-reported outcomes worsened post-readmission by 15 points on EQ-5D.

Statistic 50

Readmissions increased caregiver burden costs by $2,500 per case.

Statistic 51

Lost productivity from readmissions: $10 billion annually.

Statistic 52

Quality improvement ROI: $3.70 saved per $1 spent on readmission prevention.

Statistic 53

90-day readmission costs for HF: $28,500 per patient.

Statistic 54

Implementation of nurse-led transition programs reduced readmissions by 12%.

Statistic 55

HRRP penalties affected 2,583 hospitals in FY2023, totaling $564 million.

Statistic 56

Telehealth follow-up post-discharge cut readmissions 20% in heart failure.

Statistic 57

Pharmacist medication reconciliation reduced readmissions by 15%.

Statistic 58

BOOST program implementation lowered rates by 1.5 percentage points.

Statistic 59

Care transitions intervention (CTI) decreased readmissions 11%.

Statistic 60

Post-acute care partnerships reduced SNF readmissions 18%.

Statistic 61

Electronic health information exchange cut readmissions 9%.

Statistic 62

Palliative care consultation reduced readmissions 25% for HF.

Statistic 63

Bundled payment models lowered readmissions 7% in joint replacements.

Statistic 64

Teach-back method for discharge education: 14% reduction.

Statistic 65

Rapid follow-up appointments (<3 days): 22% lower risk.

Statistic 66

Transitional care nurses reduced COPD readmissions 16%.

Statistic 67

Predictive analytics tools identified high-risk patients, cutting rates 10%.

Statistic 68

Home health agency quality improved readmission avoidance by 13%.

Statistic 69

Weekend hospitalist coverage reduced readmissions 8%.

Statistic 70

ACO participation lowered readmissions 5.2%.

Statistic 71

Project RED redesign yielded 30% readmission drop.

Statistic 72

INTERACT program for nursing homes cut hospital readmissions 17%.

Statistic 73

Value-based purchasing incentives improved rates 4%.

Statistic 74

Remote patient monitoring devices reduced HF readmissions 21%.

Statistic 75

Social worker interventions for housing: 19% reduction.

Statistic 76

EHR alerts for medication changes: 12% lower readmissions.

Statistic 77

Community paramedicine programs decreased readmissions 25%.

Statistic 78

Peer coaching post-discharge: 15% reduction in readmissions.

Statistic 79

In 2019, the national 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rate for all conditions under Medicare was 15.3%, down from 19.0% in 2010.

Statistic 80

US hospitals had an average 30-day readmission rate of 14.8% for heart failure in FY2022 across 3,136 hospitals.

Statistic 81

The 30-day unplanned readmission rate for acute myocardial infarction was 16.2% in 2021 for Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+.

Statistic 82

Overall hospital readmission rate within 30 days was 11.6% for all-payer inpatients in California in 2020.

Statistic 83

In England, the 30-day emergency readmission rate for NHS hospitals was 11.4% in 2022/23.

Statistic 84

Canada's national 30-day readmission rate averaged 9.5% for selected conditions in 2019-2020.

Statistic 85

Australia's public hospitals reported a 30-day readmission rate of 12.1% in 2021-22.

Statistic 86

In 2020, the EU average 30-day readmission rate was 13.2% for chronic conditions.

Statistic 87

New York State's 30-day readmission rate for all causes was 14.1% in 2021.

Statistic 88

Florida hospitals averaged 15.7% 30-day readmission rate in 2019.

Statistic 89

In 2022, the 30-day readmission rate post-hip replacement was 4.2% nationally in the US.

Statistic 90

Pneumonia 30-day readmission rate stood at 17.4% for Medicare in FY2021.

Statistic 91

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) readmissions within 30 days were 20.8% in 2020.

Statistic 92

Sepsis 30-day readmission rate was 24.2% among Medicare patients in 2019.

Statistic 93

CABG surgery 30-day readmission rate averaged 10.1% in 2021.

Statistic 94

In 2021, heart failure readmission rate dropped to 21.4% from 24.7% in 2010 for Medicare.

Statistic 95

AMI readmission rates improved from 19.5% in 2009 to 16.8% in 2020.

Statistic 96

Pneumonia readmissions decreased 8% from 2010 to 2020, reaching 16.9%.

Statistic 97

Overall US 30-day readmission rate for surgical patients was 8.4% in 2019.

Statistic 98

Medical patients had 15.2% 30-day readmission vs 10.9% surgical in 2021.

Statistic 99

Rural hospitals had 16.1% readmission rate vs 14.9% urban in 2022.

Statistic 100

Safety-net hospitals reported 17.3% 30-day readmission in 2020.

Statistic 101

Teaching hospitals averaged 14.5% vs 15.8% non-teaching in 2019.

Statistic 102

For-profit hospitals had 16.4% readmission rate, nonprofit 14.2% in 2021.

Statistic 103

Small hospitals (<100 beds) had 17.2% readmission vs 13.9% large in 2020.

Statistic 104

30-day readmission rate for COVID-19 was 12.5% in early 2020.

Statistic 105

Stroke readmission rate was 12.8% within 30 days in 2021.

Statistic 106

Diabetes-related readmissions averaged 15.6% in 2019.

Statistic 107

Kidney failure readmissions were 28.4% for dialysis patients in 2020.

Statistic 108

Joint replacement readmissions fell to 3.9% in 2022.

Statistic 109

Patients with multiple chronic conditions had 2.5 times higher readmission risk.

Statistic 110

Age 75+ patients faced 18.2% readmission rate vs 12.4% under 65.

Statistic 111

Male patients had 14.7% readmission vs 13.9% females in 2021.

Statistic 112

Black patients experienced 17.1% readmission vs 14.2% White.

Statistic 113

Low-income (Medicaid) patients had 19.3% readmission rate.

Statistic 114

Limited English proficiency increased readmission odds by 1.4.

Statistic 115

Rural residents had 16.5% readmission vs urban 14.3%.

Statistic 116

Prior hospitalization within 30 days raised risk 3-fold.

Statistic 117

Anemia at discharge increased readmission by 25%.

Statistic 118

BMI >30 correlated with 1.6 higher readmission odds.

Statistic 119

Depression diagnosis doubled readmission risk.

Statistic 120

Polypharmacy (>10 meds) associated with 22% higher risk.

Statistic 121

Frailty index score >0.3 led to 2.1x readmission rate.

Statistic 122

No primary care follow-up within 7 days: 1.8x risk.

Statistic 123

Homelessness increased readmissions by 40%.

Statistic 124

Substance use disorder patients: 25.6% readmission.

Statistic 125

Caregiver burden score high: 1.5x readmission odds.

Statistic 126

Health literacy low: 28% higher readmission rate.

Statistic 127

Discharge to SNF: 20.4% readmission vs 13.2% home.

Statistic 128

Weekend discharge: 15% higher readmission risk.

Statistic 129

Inadequate discharge instructions raised risk 1.3-fold.

Statistic 130

Comorbidity index (Charlson >3): 2.4x risk.

1/130

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Nearly one in seven patients finds themselves back in the hospital within a month of being discharged, a staggering reality revealed by a 15.3% national readmission rate that represents billions in costs and untold strain on patients and healthcare systems alike.

Key Takeaways

In 2019, the national 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rate for all conditions under Medicare was 15.3%, down from 19.0% in 2010.
US hospitals had an average 30-day readmission rate of 14.8% for heart failure in FY2022 across 3,136 hospitals.
The 30-day unplanned readmission rate for acute myocardial infarction was 16.2% in 2021 for Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+.
Heart failure patients aged 65-74 had a 22.1% 30-day readmission rate in Medicare FY2022.
Acute myocardial infarction readmission rate for Black patients was 18.7% vs 15.9% White in 2021.
COPD exacerbation readmissions reached 23.4% within 30 days in 2020.
Patients with multiple chronic conditions had 2.5 times higher readmission risk.
Age 75+ patients faced 18.2% readmission rate vs 12.4% under 65.
Male patients had 14.7% readmission vs 13.9% females in 2021.
Implementation of nurse-led transition programs reduced readmissions by 12%.
HRRP penalties affected 2,583 hospitals in FY2023, totaling $564 million.
Telehealth follow-up post-discharge cut readmissions 20% in heart failure.
Hospital readmissions cost Medicare $17.4 billion in penalties and excess payments in 2019.
Each HF readmission averaged $14,250 in costs for Medicare in 2021.
30-day readmissions accounted for 17% of total Medicare hospital spending.

Hospital readmission rates vary but have slowly declined over the past decade.

Condition-Specific Readmissions

Heart failure patients aged 65-74 had a 22.1% 30-day readmission rate in Medicare FY2022.
Acute myocardial infarction readmission rate for Black patients was 18.7% vs 15.9% White in 2021.
COPD exacerbation readmissions reached 23.4% within 30 days in 2020.
Pneumonia readmission for patients over 85 was 20.3% in 2019.
Sepsis survivors had 26.7% readmission rate at 30 days post-discharge in 2021.
CABG patients readmitted within 30 days: 11.2% due to infections in 2020.
Stroke ischemic readmission rate was 13.5% for Medicare in FY2021.
Hip fracture surgery readmissions: 9.8% within 30 days in 2022.
Total knee arthroplasty 30-day readmission was 2.5% in 2021.
Diabetes with complications readmission rate: 19.2% in 2019.
End-stage renal disease readmissions post-transplant: 30.1% at 30 days.
Atrial fibrillation readmissions: 16.8% within 30 days in 2020.
Cellulitis readmission rate was 14.6% for Medicare in 2021.
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage readmissions: 13.9% at 30 days in 2019.
Psychotic disorder readmissions averaged 21.5% within 30 days.
Alcohol-related readmissions: 18.3% post-detox in 2020.
COVID-19 pneumonia readmission: 15.2% within 30 days in 2021.
Pancreatitis acute readmissions: 12.7% at 30 days.
Uterine cancer readmissions post-hysterectomy: 8.4%.
Lung cancer resection readmissions: 10.2% within 30 days.
Prostatectomy readmissions: 5.6% at 30 days in 2021.
Cholecystectomy readmissions: 3.1% post-laparoscopic.
Appendectomy readmissions dropped to 1.8% in 2020.
Colorectal surgery readmissions: 11.5% within 30 days.
Coronary angioplasty readmissions: 7.9% at 30 days.
Valve replacement readmissions: 12.3% post-TAVR in 2021.
Obesity-related readmissions: 16.4% for bariatric surgery.

Condition-Specific Readmissions Interpretation

These statistics reveal a healthcare system where the revolving door spins fastest for our sickest and most vulnerable patients, while also showing a troubling racial disparity that we can't just discharge as someone else's problem.

Economic and Outcome Impacts

Hospital readmissions cost Medicare $17.4 billion in penalties and excess payments in 2019.
Each HF readmission averaged $14,250 in costs for Medicare in 2021.
30-day readmissions accounted for 17% of total Medicare hospital spending.
Reducing readmissions by 1% could save $1.2 billion annually.
HRRP saved Medicare $2.8 billion from 2010-2020.
COPD readmissions cost $41 billion yearly in the US.
Post-surgical readmissions increased length of stay by 4.3 days on average.
Readmitted patients had 27% higher 1-year mortality.
Sepsis readmissions linked to 35% increased mortality risk.
HF readmission patients mortality at 1 year: 36.2% vs 22.4% non-readmitted.
Average cost per readmission: $15,200 for pneumonia in 2020.
AMI readmissions cost $12,800 each on average.
Elective surgery readmissions added $4.4 billion in unnecessary costs yearly.
Rural hospital readmissions cost 12% more per case.
26% of readmissions deemed potentially preventable, costing $17 billion.
Readmissions reduced hospital star ratings, impacting $1.9 billion reimbursements.
Post-discharge mortality within 30 days: 8.7% for readmitted patients.
Chronic disease readmissions linked to 50% higher 90-day costs.
Interventions saving one readmission per 100 discharges: $300k annual savings per hospital.
Medicare Advantage plans had 11% lower readmission rates, saving $500 million.
SNF readmissions cost Medicare $2.4 billion extra in 2018.
Patient-reported outcomes worsened post-readmission by 15 points on EQ-5D.
Readmissions increased caregiver burden costs by $2,500 per case.
Lost productivity from readmissions: $10 billion annually.
Quality improvement ROI: $3.70 saved per $1 spent on readmission prevention.
90-day readmission costs for HF: $28,500 per patient.

Economic and Outcome Impacts Interpretation

The sheer human and financial carnage in these numbers—where preventable readmissions drain billions, cut lives short, and burden families—screams that better care isn't just a moral imperative, but a fiscal lifeline we're foolishly ignoring.

Hospital and Policy Interventions

Implementation of nurse-led transition programs reduced readmissions by 12%.
HRRP penalties affected 2,583 hospitals in FY2023, totaling $564 million.
Telehealth follow-up post-discharge cut readmissions 20% in heart failure.
Pharmacist medication reconciliation reduced readmissions by 15%.
BOOST program implementation lowered rates by 1.5 percentage points.
Care transitions intervention (CTI) decreased readmissions 11%.
Post-acute care partnerships reduced SNF readmissions 18%.
Electronic health information exchange cut readmissions 9%.
Palliative care consultation reduced readmissions 25% for HF.
Bundled payment models lowered readmissions 7% in joint replacements.
Teach-back method for discharge education: 14% reduction.
Rapid follow-up appointments (<3 days): 22% lower risk.
Transitional care nurses reduced COPD readmissions 16%.
Predictive analytics tools identified high-risk patients, cutting rates 10%.
Home health agency quality improved readmission avoidance by 13%.
Weekend hospitalist coverage reduced readmissions 8%.
ACO participation lowered readmissions 5.2%.
Project RED redesign yielded 30% readmission drop.
INTERACT program for nursing homes cut hospital readmissions 17%.
Value-based purchasing incentives improved rates 4%.
Remote patient monitoring devices reduced HF readmissions 21%.
Social worker interventions for housing: 19% reduction.
EHR alerts for medication changes: 12% lower readmissions.
Community paramedicine programs decreased readmissions 25%.
Peer coaching post-discharge: 15% reduction in readmissions.

Hospital and Policy Interventions Interpretation

The statistics paint a clear, actionable, and surprisingly affordable truth: hospitals that invest in caring for people beyond their own walls—through nurses, pharmacists, follow-ups, and even housing—are the ones that stop the revolving door and keep both patients and penalties at bay.

Overall Readmission Rates

In 2019, the national 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rate for all conditions under Medicare was 15.3%, down from 19.0% in 2010.
US hospitals had an average 30-day readmission rate of 14.8% for heart failure in FY2022 across 3,136 hospitals.
The 30-day unplanned readmission rate for acute myocardial infarction was 16.2% in 2021 for Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+.
Overall hospital readmission rate within 30 days was 11.6% for all-payer inpatients in California in 2020.
In England, the 30-day emergency readmission rate for NHS hospitals was 11.4% in 2022/23.
Canada's national 30-day readmission rate averaged 9.5% for selected conditions in 2019-2020.
Australia's public hospitals reported a 30-day readmission rate of 12.1% in 2021-22.
In 2020, the EU average 30-day readmission rate was 13.2% for chronic conditions.
New York State's 30-day readmission rate for all causes was 14.1% in 2021.
Florida hospitals averaged 15.7% 30-day readmission rate in 2019.
In 2022, the 30-day readmission rate post-hip replacement was 4.2% nationally in the US.
Pneumonia 30-day readmission rate stood at 17.4% for Medicare in FY2021.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) readmissions within 30 days were 20.8% in 2020.
Sepsis 30-day readmission rate was 24.2% among Medicare patients in 2019.
CABG surgery 30-day readmission rate averaged 10.1% in 2021.
In 2021, heart failure readmission rate dropped to 21.4% from 24.7% in 2010 for Medicare.
AMI readmission rates improved from 19.5% in 2009 to 16.8% in 2020.
Pneumonia readmissions decreased 8% from 2010 to 2020, reaching 16.9%.
Overall US 30-day readmission rate for surgical patients was 8.4% in 2019.
Medical patients had 15.2% 30-day readmission vs 10.9% surgical in 2021.
Rural hospitals had 16.1% readmission rate vs 14.9% urban in 2022.
Safety-net hospitals reported 17.3% 30-day readmission in 2020.
Teaching hospitals averaged 14.5% vs 15.8% non-teaching in 2019.
For-profit hospitals had 16.4% readmission rate, nonprofit 14.2% in 2021.
Small hospitals (<100 beds) had 17.2% readmission vs 13.9% large in 2020.
30-day readmission rate for COVID-19 was 12.5% in early 2020.
Stroke readmission rate was 12.8% within 30 days in 2021.
Diabetes-related readmissions averaged 15.6% in 2019.
Kidney failure readmissions were 28.4% for dialysis patients in 2020.
Joint replacement readmissions fell to 3.9% in 2022.

Overall Readmission Rates Interpretation

While we've made commendable progress in reducing readmissions overall, the persistently high rates for complex chronic conditions like sepsis, COPD, and kidney failure reveal a stubborn and costly truth: our healthcare system is still far better at treating acute crises than at managing the messy, long-term realities of being sick.

Patient Demographics and Risk Factors

Patients with multiple chronic conditions had 2.5 times higher readmission risk.
Age 75+ patients faced 18.2% readmission rate vs 12.4% under 65.
Male patients had 14.7% readmission vs 13.9% females in 2021.
Black patients experienced 17.1% readmission vs 14.2% White.
Low-income (Medicaid) patients had 19.3% readmission rate.
Limited English proficiency increased readmission odds by 1.4.
Rural residents had 16.5% readmission vs urban 14.3%.
Prior hospitalization within 30 days raised risk 3-fold.
Anemia at discharge increased readmission by 25%.
BMI >30 correlated with 1.6 higher readmission odds.
Depression diagnosis doubled readmission risk.
Polypharmacy (>10 meds) associated with 22% higher risk.
Frailty index score >0.3 led to 2.1x readmission rate.
No primary care follow-up within 7 days: 1.8x risk.
Homelessness increased readmissions by 40%.
Substance use disorder patients: 25.6% readmission.
Caregiver burden score high: 1.5x readmission odds.
Health literacy low: 28% higher readmission rate.
Discharge to SNF: 20.4% readmission vs 13.2% home.
Weekend discharge: 15% higher readmission risk.
Inadequate discharge instructions raised risk 1.3-fold.
Comorbidity index (Charlson >3): 2.4x risk.

Patient Demographics and Risk Factors Interpretation

These statistics paint a stark picture: if you're discharged from the hospital into a complex web of social disadvantage, chronic illness, or systemic gaps in care, the system is statistically ushering you right back through its doors.

Sources & References

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