The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Feb. 20 issued a rule proposing changes to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, which bundles payment to acute care hospitals for hip and knee replacement surgery. Under this model, hospitals in which a joint replacement has taken place are held financially accountable for episode quality and costs. 

Among other proposals, CMS would extend the CJR model for an additional three years, through Dec. 31, 2023, beyond its current five-year timeline. However, this extension would apply only to hospitals in the 34 metropolitan statistical areas in which participation was mandatory. Hospitals participating in the 33 “voluntary” MSAs, as well as all low-volume and rural hospitals that have elected to participate, will continue to see the model end on Dec. 31, 2020.

The AHA has long been supportive of voluntary participation in alternative payment models as a pathway to potentially improve care coordination and efficiency. As such, the association is disappointed that CMS is not proposing to extend voluntary participation options in the CJR model.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 12 released draft guidance for the third round of negotiations for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation…
Headline
The AHA April 30 released a report highlighting how hospitals and health systems continue to experience significant financial headwinds that can challenge…
Headline
The AHA today urged the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to take specific actions on physician fee schedule payments following recommendations the…
Chairperson's File
Public
Rural hospitals and health systems face big challenges, but together — with a unified voice — we can work to ensure people living in rural communities get the…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services March 27 announced a series of actions as part of a department-wide restructuring. The department said the moves…
Headline
The AHA March 27 made a series of recommendations to the Physician‐Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee to address barriers to participating in…