Impact of hospital-acquired conditions on financial liabilities for Medicare patients.

Hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are a costly source of patient harms. Prior analyses have suggested that HACs lead to nearly $150 million per year in excess Medicare costs. Examining the financial burdens placed on Medicare patients who develop an HAC, this study found that these patients are liable for increased deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, resulting in approximately $20.5 million per year in added cost burdens.