This article was published in Clinical Geriatrics 16:7, p 17-20. 2008.

Medicare recently released new reimbursement guidelines that will deny payment for “preventable” complications that arise during hospitalization.  These include such entities as catheter-related infections, fall-related injuries, transfusion with incompatible blood products, and pressure ulcers.  This is Part II of a two-part series on pressure ulcers and Medicare reimbursement. Part I appeared in the June issue of Clinical Geriatrics and discussed specific factors that Medicare and other insurers may consider when determining whether a pressure ulcer is preventable.