The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is beginning a new initiative to help patients “bundle” their healthcare. Doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers can now apply to participate in a new program known as the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative (Bundled Payments initiative). The initiative is part of the Affordable Care Act and aims to align payments for services delivered across an episode of care, such as heart bypass or hip replacement, rather than paying for services separately. HHS says bundled payments will give doctors and hospitals new incentives to coordinate care, improve the quality of care and save money for Medicare.
In Medicare currently, hospitals, physicians and other clinicians who provide care for beneficiaries bill and are paid separately for their services. This Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative will bundle care for a package of services patients receive to treat a specific medical condition during a single hospital stay and/or recovery from that stay – this is known as an episode of care. By bundling payment across providers for multiple services, providers may have a greater incentive to coordinate and ensure continuity of care across settings. Supporters of the initiative say better coordinated care can reduce unnecessary duplication of services, reduce preventable medical errors, help patients heal without harm, and lower costs. Read More