Azar previews plans for bundled payment models

The Department of Health and Human Services is considering new episode-based payment models, including mandatory and voluntary models, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said yesterday, addressing a conference convened by the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative in Washington, D.C. “We intend to revisit some of the episodic cardiac models that we pulled back, and are actively exploring new and improved episode-based models in other areas, including radiation oncology,” Azar said. “We’re also actively looking at ways to build on the lessons and successes of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.”