First year analysis of CJR bundled payment model

Editor's Note

This interim analysis of the first year of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) bundled payment model finds that CJR may reduce institutional postacute care.

Of  75 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) that were assigned the bundled payment model and 121 control MSAs, the mean percentage of discharges to institutional postacute care was 33.7% in the control group and 2.9% percentage points lower in the CJR group, a significant difference. However, there was no significant difference in total Medicare spending per episode between the two groups.

Further evaluation is needed as the model is fully implemented, the researchers conclude.