Hospitals Saved $997 Per Episode, Approximately 3.7%, Under Medicare Joint Replacement Bundled Model

Hospitals saved about $997 per episode, approximately 3.7%, under the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model for lower extremity joint replacements (LEJR). For LEJR episodes initiated on or after April 1, 2016 that ended by December 31, 2017, Medicare savings from the CJR model are estimated at $17.4 million, after accounting for reconciliation payments paid to the participating hospitals. Quality of care, as measured by the readmission rate, emergency department visits, and mortality, was maintained under the CJR model.

The CJR model is an alternative payment model (APM) that tests whether episode-based bundled payments and quality . . .