Most hospitals in New Jersey will once again pay a penalty for failing to prevent readmissions among its elderly patients within 30 days of discharge, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News.

A total of 63 hospitals and hospital networks in the state will forfeit an average 0.73% on every reimbursement beginning in October, according to the analysis.

That’s more than the national average of 0.61% per reimbursement. The penalty could have been as high as 3%, and only Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen came close, with a 2.49% penalty per reimbursement.

These 63 hospitals represent 97% of all New Jersey hospitals — the largest number of penalized hospitals in any other state or the District of Columbia, according to Kaiser.

Read more at www.nj.com