The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (CMMI) released a request for information (RFI) in May to solicit public input on the design of a future episode payment model. The future model will improve care transitions and increase specialists’ engagement in value-based accountable care, building on the lessons learned from CMMI’s previous episode-based payment initiatives (namely, the comprehensive care for joint replacement model and the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement model and its successors). CMS will design the new model to better align with population-based payment models. The RFI seeks input on six foundational components of the episode-based payment model: episode structure and definitions, participation, health equity, quality measurement, payment methodology, and model overlap.
Comments for the RFI are due by August 17.