CMS Finalizes Additional Delay For Episodic Payment Programs

After earlier delays following the change in administration and leadership, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has set the start date for cardiac episode payment models (EPMs) and revisions to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) to Jan. 1, 2018.

The rule establishing mandatory cardiac EPMs and revising the requirements and scope of the mandatory CJR model has been pushed back to the beginning of 2018. Hospitals in certain metropolitan statistical areas will be paid based on CMS target pricing for both inpatient and post-discharge care, running from the date of admission to 90 days following discharge for the following episodes of care:

1. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)