Preparing for Cardiology Bundled Payments in 2017

Effective July 1, 2017 for Medicare heart attack patients, the the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will move away from its traditional fee-for-service reimbursement to bundled payment models in attempts to reduce healthcare costs. This includes patients with myocardial infarction who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with or without stenting, and coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). 
  
This move may signal the beginning of the end of traditional CMS reimbursement for cardiac patients and the dawn of a new era of increased financial and organizational challenges for hospital cardiovascular programs. To help prepare cardiology practices and hospitals for this change, here is a list of related articles to provide background and possible strategies: 

HHS Finalizes Cardiology Bundled Payment Model to Lower Healthcare Costs

Preparing Hospitals for Mandatory Medicare Cardiac Bundled Payments

Methodology and Approach to Preparing for Mandatory Cardiac Bundled Payments

Societies Comment on New CMS Bundled Payments for Cardiology

HHS Finalizes New Rule for MACRA Quality Payment Program

HHS Sets Clear Goals, Timeline for Shifting Reimbursements From Volume to Value

CMS Launches Bundled Payment Initiative to Reduce Healthcare Costs