The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a final
rule that cancels the cardiac and surgical hip and femur fracture
treatment mandatory bundling payment programs, known as the episode payment
models. It also cancels the cardiac rehabilitation incentive payment model.
These programs had been scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2018. The rule also
finalizes revisions to 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. Specifically, the CJR model will continue on
a mandatory basis in 34 of the 67 selected geographic areas, with an exception
for low-volume and rural hospitals, and continue on a voluntary basis in the
other 33 of 67 areas. The rule also implements a policy to provide some
flexibility in the determination of episode costs for CJR hospitals located in
areas impacted by extreme and uncontrollable circumstances, such as the recent
hurricanes. Read
more.