CMS extends bundled payments deadline to April 30

by Ben Penn on Jan 11, 2012

You now have an extra six weeks to complete your applications to participate in a Bundled Payments for Care Improvement project. CMS announced the deadline for Models 2 through 4 has been extended from March 15, 2012 to April 30, 2012.

Remember:  Bundled payments models 2 and 3 pertain to post-discharge care, and are the only two models that allow individual physician practices to participate. Models 1 and 4 are for inpatient stays only.

Hospitals will likely be the driving force in these projects, recruiting you or your peers to join them in a cost-saving venture (PBN 9/19/11).

But if the project winds up costing Medicare more than under fee-for-service, the participants are forced to eat the extra cost, meaning preparations must be very carefully coordinated. There are many possible bundled payments scenarios that could wind up making you extra cash if you participate (PBN 9/26/11). Now you’ve got more time to sort through your options.

For more bundled payments information from CMS, go to http://innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/bundled-payments.

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