The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed canceling two bundled payment models, the cardiac and expanded joint replacement models.
The proposed rule, which was sent to the Office of Management and Budget last week, would cancel the cardiac and surgical hip and femur fracture treatment mandatory bundling payment programs, known as the episode payment models. It also would cancel the cardiac rehabilitation incentive payment model. These programs had been scheduled to begin January 1, 2018. The rule also proposes to revise certain aspects of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, including giving certain hospitals selected for participation in the CJR model a one-time option to choose whether to continue their participation in the model but the CJR model would continue on a mandatory basis in 34 of the 67 selected geographic areas
Comments are due October 17.
