The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA), a 400-member Pennsylvania health and human services trade association, endorsed an aspect of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) fiscal year 2027 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule.
Its statement regards CMS’ proposal to expand its Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR) model nationwide to improve care coordination and reduce costs for Medicare patients undergoing hip, knee, and ankle replacements. “The model would hold hospitals accountable for the full episode of care, including surgery and 90 days of recovery, encouraging better outcomes and a more efficient use of resources,” states RCPA.
The association explains that CMS’ Innovation Center tested the model from April 2016 through December 2024 and that it generated “significant Medicare savings while maintaining quality of care for beneficiaries.” Under the model, hospitals were responsible for Medicare spending for the joint replacement surgery, the hospital stay, and the first 90 days of recovery, including follow-up care such as physical therapy.
RCPA believes nationwide expansion of the model would create strong incentives for hospitals to “coordinate care more effectively, avoid unnecessary services like avoidable re-hospitalization and emergency care, and focus on delivering the best outcomes for patients. It would specifically encourage better communication with post-acute care providers to support recovery.”
