Proposed Changes to Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule to cancel the mandatory Episode Payment Models and Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive payment model that was scheduled to begin January 1, 2018. This would include the Surgical Hip and Femur Fracture Treatment (SHFFT) Model. In addition, the proposed rule would reduce the number of mandatory geographic areas participating in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s (Innovation Center) Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model from 67 to 34. In addition, CMS proposes to allow CJR participants in the 33 remaining areas to participate on a voluntary basis. In this rule, CMS also proposes to make participation in the CJR model voluntary for all low volume and rural hospitals in all of the CJR geographic areas.

Public comments are due by October 16 at 11:59 pm EST. To read the proposed rule, click