Vizient Offers Recommendations to CMS on Proposed Rule for Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vizient, Inc. today submitted recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the proposed rule, “Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model Three Year Extension and Modifications to Episode Definition and Pricing.”

In its letter to CMS, Vizient provides suggestions to help improve the model as CMS considers extending it beyond performance year five and expanding it to include outpatient settings. Vizient supports expanding the model, as certain procedures are now more commonly performed in the outpatient setting than when the model was originally designed. In addition, Vizient noted CMS’ recent change to the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy to account for COVID-19 and encouraged the agency to continue adapting regulations in light of the broad implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company also supports the agency’s work to test the CJR model to support better and more efficient care for beneficiaries undergoing hip and knee replacements. Vizient’s concerns center on how the model captures care provided in different patient settings as well as targets price calculations and the reconciliation process.

“We appreciate CMS’ efforts to align several components of the CJR model with the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCIA) model as it can both help reduce administrative burden and enhance provider understanding of each model,” said Shoshana Krilow, vice president, public policy and government relations for Vizient.

Vizient is the nation’s largest member-driven health care performance improvement company, providing innovative data-driven solutions, expertise, and collaborative opportunities that lead to improved patient outcomes and lower costs.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc. provides solutions and services that improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance for more than 50% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 95% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume, to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient has earned a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute every year since its inception. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.