Fines against hospitals that readmit too many Medicare patients within 30 days of discharge took effect Monday.

The fines are a part of the Affordable Care Act and are a part of the push to improve quality of care while also trying to save money.

Government estimates show that about two-thirds of hospitals serving Medicare patients will be hit with penalties averaging $125,000 per facility in the coming year.

About 12 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized are later readmitted for a potentially preventable problem, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, known as MedPAC.

The threat of fines have hospital administrators at both Northern Colorado hospital systems working to ensure that patients are ready to leave after a stay at the hospital and that they adhere to post-procedure guidelines set out by medical professionals.