CMS Delays Bundled Payment Initiatives Yet Again

In the March 21, 2017 Federal Register, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) to again delay the effective date of the final rule (originally published in the January 3, 2017 Federal Register), implementing the three new Medicare Parts A and B episode payment models, changes to the existing Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model, and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive model. The effective date has been delayed from March 21 to May 20. According to the interim final rule, the delay is necessary to allow time for additional review. The new payment models and the updated CJR Model allow clinicians additional opportunities to qualify for a five percent incentive payment through the Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) path under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and the Quality Payment Program.