A study in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery investigated whether an academic medical center saw improvements after choosing to participate in CMS' Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative.
The medical center participated in BPCI Model 2, which includes all inpatient and post-acute care costs through 90 days following discharge for total joint arthroplasty. The researchers compared outcomes like length of stay, readmissions, discharge disposition and cost at year one and year three of the program.
Here's what you need to know:
1. To align with the BPCI model, the medical center instituted programs focused on preoperative risk-factor optimization, enhanced care coordination, infection-prevention measures and discharge to home, among other initiatives.
2. The average hospital length of stay decreased from 3.58 to 2.96 days.
3. The rate of discharge to an inpatient facility decreased from 44 percent to 28 percent.
4. The 30-day readmission rate decreased from 7 percent to 5 percent, the 60-day readmission rate decreased from 11 percent to 6 percent and the 90-day readmission rate decreased from 13 percent to 8 percent.
5. The overall cost per episode decreased by 20 percent.
The researchers concluded the Medicare BPCI model resulted in "increased value to all stakeholders involved in this initiative."