Hospital readmissions aren’t just numbers on a chart, they’re one of the clearest indicators of how well (or poorly) the healthcare system supports patients after they leave the hospital. Hospital readmission rates statistics reveal that every year, millions of Americans return to the hospital within just 30 days, often due to preventable complications, rushed care transitions, or a lack of coordinated follow-up.
And here’s the surprising part: some conditions, states, and patient groups are dramatically more at risk than others. In fact, your likelihood of being readmitted can depend on where you live, what you were treated for, your insurance type, and even how quickly you see a doctor after you go home. Our team at Healthsure HUB prepared this report breaks down the latest hospital readmission rates statistics, with real data on:
- The conditions with the highest 30-day readmission rates
- How age, race, and insurance coverage affect patient outcomes
- Which U.S. states struggle the most — and which boast the lowest rates
- Why early follow-up care can slash readmission risk by nearly half
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 20% of U.S. hospital patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge.
- From 2016 to 2020, the 30-days hospital readmission rate remained steady, with 13.9 per 100 index admissions.
- The hospital readmission rate was the highest among non-Hispanic Black patients and lowest with non-Hispanic Asian patients.
- For patients hospitalized for a given blood disease the 30-day readmission rate is 23.8 readmissions per 100 index admissions, among the highest for common diagnoses.
- Patients admitted for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) face a readmission rate of roughly 12–20% within 30 days following discharge.
- For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 30-day readmission rates hover around 20%.
- More than one-third of all 30-day readmissions occur within the 14 days for individuals with higher chronic illness burden.
- Among patients initially hospitalized for heart failure, approximately 20-50% of hospitalized heart failure patients are readmitted within 30-days to a year after discharge.
- The average cost of hospital readmission was over 12% higher, with a total of $16,300.
- Medicare patients have higher-readmission rates than individuals with private insurance.
General Hospital Readmission Rates
Hospital readmission rates statistics show that nearly 20% of patients in the United States are readmitted within 30 days of leaving the hospital. This high percentage highlights how vulnerable patients remain immediately after discharge and why early follow-up care, medication management, and transitional support are essential for preventing avoidable hospital returns.
From 2016 to 2020, national data also shows that the 30-day hospital readmission rate stayed consistently steady at 13.9 readmissions per 100 index admissions, with minimal fluctuations over time despite extensive efforts to improve care coordination.
It’s worth noting that Medicare patients have by far the highest readmission rates 17.1%, doubling the rate of individuals with private insurance.
Early Readmissions Rates
More than one-third of all 30-day readmissions occur within the first 14 days after discharge, particularly among individuals with a heavier chronic illness burden. This emphasizes the importance of enhanced monitoring and follow-up during this high-risk window.
With the implementation of various strategies aimed at reducing early readmission, research found that timely follow-up appointments and over-the-phone discharge instructions reduce the need to readmission.
Scheduling timely follow-up appointments, ideally within the first week after discharge, significantly reduces the 30-day readmission rate.
Clear, easy-to-understand discharge instructions significantly reduce confusion once patients return home. When hospitals take extra time to review medication changes, warning signs, and self-care steps, patients are better equipped to manage their recovery independently. It showed that patients who received weekly phone call each day for 30 days after being discharged had a 44% lower readmission rate.
Hospital Readmission Rates Statistics by Condition
Patients admitted for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) also face notable readmission challenges, with roughly 12–20% returning to the hospital within 30 days of discharge.
With chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affecting more than 250 million individuals every year, it remains one of the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States. Research shows that 30-days readmission rates for COPD average around 20%, with the most frequent cause of readmission being COPD with exacerbation (29%).
Post–COVID-19 data further highlights significant trends in readmissions. In 2020, the highest readmission rate was observed among patients hospitalized for blood diseases, reaching 23.8 readmissions per 100 index admissions. That same year, circulatory system diseases accounted for the largest share of condition-specific readmissions at 16.8%.
Other notable 2020 readmission rates include:
- 12.4% for patients with infectious and parasitic diseases
- 11.6% for patients with digestive system diseases
Hospital Readmission Rates Statistics By Age and Race
Our hospital readmission rates statistics show that age and insurance type play a much bigger role in hospital readmissions than most people realize.
For example, among adults 21 to 64 years old who are covered by Medicare, readmissions are especially common — coming in at 21.4 per 100 initial hospital stays. Similarly, non-maternal patients aged 45–64 who rely on Medicaid also see high readmission levels, with about 19.7 readmissions per 100 index admissions.
As per research, non-Hispanic Black patients had the highest readmission rate at 16.6 per 100 index admissions, while the non-Hispanic Asian patients stayed at the lowest with 11.7 per 100 index admissions.
Cardiovascular Readmissions Rate
Individuals hospitalized for heart failure face some of the highest recurrence rates, with 20–50% of patients being readmitted within 30 days to 12 months. This makes heart failure one of the most resource-intensive chronic conditions in the U.S. health system.
Cost of Hospital Readmissions
The financial burden of unplanned returns is significant. Our hospital readmission rates statistics show that the average cost of a hospital readmission exceeds typical hospitalization expenses by more than 12%, reaching roughly $16,300 per readmission, placing additional strain on both patients and the healthcare system.
Readmission Rates by State
Hospital readmission rates statistics vary significantly across the United States, influenced by factors such as hospital size, patient demographics, Medicare volumes, and the overall health profile of each state. Below is a simplified table highlighting the states with the highest and lowest average readmission rates, along with notable patterns observed in the data.
| State | Average Readmission Rate | Notes |
| Massachusetts | 15.3% | Highest average readmission rate in the U.S.; large hospitals with high discharge volumes. |
| Florida | 15.0% or greater | Among states with the most hospitals over 16% readmission; large patient volumes. |
| Illinois | 15.0% or greater | High number of large hospitals and high discharge rates. |
| Louisiana | 15.0% or greater | Listed among states with elevated readmission rates. |
| Nevada | 15.0% or greater | One of the top states for high readmissions; large hospital bed capacity. |
| West Virginia | 15.0% or greater | Increased Medicare patient presence contributes to higher rates. |
| Idaho | 13.3% | Lowest readmission rate in the country; fewer Medicare discharges. |
| Washington | under 13.8% | Lower-than-average readmission rate. |
| Utah | under 13.8% | Lower-than-average readmission rate. |
| Hawaii | 14.0% | Lower readmissions partly linked to longest life expectancy and better population health. |
Conclusion
By tracking hospital readmission rates statistics across conditions, states, and patient demographics, the industry can better target interventions, optimize resources, and ultimately deliver safer, more effective care. States with larger hospitals, higher Medicare patient volumes, and more complex case mixes tend to experience elevated readmission rates, while states with healthier populations and lower discharge volumes often see better outcomes.
As policymakers, healthcare leaders, and providers analyze these patterns, the goal remains the same: reduce preventable readmissions, improve care coordination, and strengthen patient outcomes nationwide.
Sources:
https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/data/infographics/readmission-rates.pdf
https://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb304-readmissions-2016-2020.jsp#_hl_2
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538941/#:~:text=The%2030,100%20index%20admissions%20in%202016
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12291879
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14604582231164694
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(21)03133-0/fulltext
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12387320/#B81-jcm-14-05894
https://intuitionlabs.ai/pdfs/hospital-readmission-rates-by-state-us-data-analysis.pdf
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