CMS issues final rule for cardiac bundled payments

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its latest episode payment models Tuesday, including the much-discussed incentive model for cardiac rehabilitation.

Based on the mandatory bundled payments demonstrated earlier, the cardiac model targets Medicare beneficiaries who are treated for heart attacks or a coronary artery bypass graft. All related care within 90 days of the hospital discharge will be included in the episode of care.

Facilities that receive at least 25 percent of their payments from Medicare or for whom at least 20 percent of residents are Medicare beneficiaries qualify to take part in the payment programs.

The programs are scheduled to begin July 1, 2017 and will run for five years.

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.