AAHKS Comments on CMS CJR Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) released the interim final rule (IFR), Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID– 19 Public Health Emergency – Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model and accepted comments through last week. The IFR extends CJR performance year 5 to December 31, 2021 due to the COVID-19 PHE and seeks input on performance years 6-8. It also provides two reconciliations for PY5, which AAHKS supports. The IFR adds new DRGs 521 and 522 to CJR. AAHKS Disagreed with CMS’ proposal to modify the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy to expire on the earlier of either March 31, 2021, as the pandemic is nowhere near an end. Finally, we reiterated in our comments to CMS that reduction to Medicare FFS reimbursement seriously undermines the development of value-based care models such as CJR. For more information, read our letter, and review our summary.