The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has mandated that hospitals in 67 markets participate in bundled payments for hip and knee replacements. It's part of an acceleration in the transition to risk-based payment arrangements, and about 800 hospitals will be subject to the new reimbursement regime.
This is the first time CMS is requiring mandatory participation in any bundling; before, all such initiatives have been voluntary for hospitals. It shows a commitment from Medicare—some employers and commercial payers are already beyond the experimental stage—to integrate care and put providers at financial risk for outcomes.
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