Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

Is HHS’ Proposal to Scale Back Mandatory Bundled Payments a Step Back from Value-Based Care? Many Healthcare Experts Say No

Healthcare Informatics: Last Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted a rule title that proposed eliminating mandatory bundled payment programs in several areas of healthcare including cardiac care and joint replacement. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) then followed up that rule posting with a press release Tuesday that provided more details regarding its proposal to change the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model and cancel the mandatory Episode Payment Models and Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive payment model.

The proposed rule would cancel the mandatory bundled payment programs for heart attacks and bypass surgeries as well as expansion of the existing Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model (CJR) to include surgical treatments for hip and femur fractures. CMS officials said the proposed rule aims to provide “greater flexibility and choice for hospitals in orthopedic care for Medicare beneficiaries.”

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