CMS released yesterday that it plans to expand the CJR (Comprehensive Joint Replacement) bundled payment system to include not only additional hip and femur DRGs, but also AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction) and CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) DRGs. This is an ongoing progress from CMS to shift Medicare payments from quantity to quality by creating strong incentives for hospitals to deliver better care at a lower cost. Just like with the CJR bundle, the risk will be phased

Medicare has implemented the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model as of April 1st, 2016!  Yep, as if the DRG system and calculation of the payments was not confusing enough, now MS-DRGs 469 and 470 just got more interesting. In an attempt to increase the quality, efficacy and cost of care, Medicare is bundling payments for an episode of care to incentivize hospitals, physicians, rehabilitation facilities, manufactures and other providers to work together. Patr