September 9, 2015
Washington, D.C.—CAPG, the leading U.S. trade association for physician organizations practicing capitated, coordinated care, submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the agency’s bold new proposal to implement bundled payments for lower extremity joint replacements.
In July, CMS proposed the creation and testing of a new bundled payment model called CCJR. This new model would require the participation of hospitals in 75 geographic areas, with some limited exceptions. All related care covered under Medicare Part A and Part B within 90 days of hospital discharge from the procedure would be included in the payment bundle.
“CAPG is encouraged by the agency’s bold step forward on implementing the Secretary’s goals of moving Traditional Medicare payments from fee-for-service to value-based models,” the letter states.
In its comments, CAPG encourages CMS to broaden the proposed approach on which entities are authorized to initiate the bundle, rather than allowing only hospitals to do so. CAPG also urges the agency to carefully consider the interaction between bundled payments and new models that are still being developed, such as the Next Generation ACO (which includes an opportunity for capitated payment for an entire population).
“CAPG encourages the development of models like CCJR as stepping stones for organizations looking to ultimately pursue risk-based coordinated care for entire populations,” said CAPG President and CEOand CEO Donald H. Crane.
View the CCJR comment letter here.
