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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the attached interim final rule with comment period delaying, by three months, implementation of its new mandatory episode-based payment model (EPM) for cardiac care and expansion of the current Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model to include surgical treatments for hip and femur fractures beyond hip replacement. The interim final rule, which was issued to give the Trump Administration additional time to review the original final rule consistent with the administration’s regulatory freeze, delays the implementation date of these models from July 1 to Oct. 1. It also further delays certain provisions for a second time, from March 21 to May 20. In addition, CMS seeks comments on the appropriateness of the delay, and whether implementation of the new models should be delayed further until Jan. 1, 2018.
CHA anticipates that CMS will make fairly significant modifications to these programs through separate rulemaking in the very near future, and will respond during this 30-day comment period. As providers await more details from CMS, CHA is interested in learning from members about the programs’ opportunities and challenges and changes that are needed. Contact Alyssa Keefe, CHA vice president, federal regulatory affairs, at akeefe@calhospital.org or (202) 488-4688 with feedback.
