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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has notified hospitals participating in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model that they must make selections to participate in either Track 1 or Track 2 of the model by Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. (PT). Track 1 of the CJR model is considered an Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) under requirements of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Participation in Track 1 requires hospitals to attest to the use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology, as defined in 42 CFR Section 414.1305, to document and communicate clinical care to their patients or other health care providers, and to submit a financial arrangement list of CJR collaborators. CJR collaborators of the Track 1 participant hospitals and the practice collaboration agents of CJR collaborators are eligible to earn a 5 percent APM incentive payment under the Quality Payment Program, provided they achieve threshold levels of participation in Advanced APMs to attain qualifying APM participant (QP) status for a year.
CMS also notes that hospitals that previously selected Track 2 participation may revise their election to Track 1. Track selection can be made by filling out the attached Excel spreadsheet and sending it to CJRSupport@cms.hhs.gov. A document providing additional instructions is attached.
CHA continues to anticipate the release of a final rule that — in addition to making changes to mandatory participation in the CJR model — would expand opportunities for clinicians who are not CJR collaborators with financial arrangements, but who contribute to the quality and cost goals of the hospital’s model, to participate as QPs under MACRA. CHA will notify members of the final rule in CHA News.
