The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed the start date to Jan. 1 for the expansion of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, the new bundled payment program for heart attack and cardiac bypass surgery services and the new cardiac rehabilitation incentive program.

The previous start date was Oct. 1.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) says it supported the additional delay in comments submitted last month, but the association cautioned against additional delays that “would effectively turn the start date for these programs into a moving target.”

The programs were part of a final rule issued in December.