CMS is allowing more physicians to participate in Medicare's advanced alternative payment models for hip procedures, femur procedures, bypass surgery and heart attack care, MedPage Today reports.
Here are five key notes:
1. CMS requires hospitals in the affected geographic areas to participate in the new models. However, participation is voluntary for physicians.
2. Starting July 1, 2017, the models will operate for five years.
3. Hospitals in 67 metropolitan areas will participate in Medicare's joint replacement model. For Medicare's cardiac care models, hospitals in 98 metropolitan areas will be required to participate.
4. The model for orthopedic care is the Surgical Hip and Femur Fracture Treatment Model. The three cardiac models include: the Acute Myocardial Infarction Model, the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Model and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive Payment Model.
5. In a statement, Andrew Gurman, MD, American Medical Association president, said the association applauds the model. Dr. Gurman stated, "The AMA is working with the agency to expand opportunities for different specialties and practices to participate in innovative care models, and today's announcement advances this shared goal. We hope that CMS will continue to expand the list of advanced APMs in the future so new delivery and payment arrangements can be supported and promoted — a win for physicians and patients alike."