In January 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the somewhat controversial, mandatory Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model (CJR Model), which is a bundled payment program covering certain orthopedic procedures reimbursed by Medicare. The final rule implementing the CJR Model is effective on January 15, 2016, and the first model performance period begins on April 1, 2016. With the CJR Model, CMS aims to align various providers’ financial incentives by establishing a bundled payment system for CJR Procedures conducted in acute care hospitals located in 67 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across the country. Among the MSAs chosen to participate are New Haven-Milford, Connecticut; Norwich-New London, Connecticut; and New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania.
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