Half of surveyed U.S. hospitals say they won't bill for "never events"

Healthcare Financial Management, Nov, 2007

Just over half (52 percent) of hospitals responding to the Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey, a national hospital quality rating tool, indicate they have adopted the Leapfrog Never Events policy, a list of actions they pledge to take whenever a "never event"--a rare medical error that should never happen to a patient--occurs.

Among other actions, the policy includes waiving all costs directly related to the event.