OMB to Review Proposed Rule on Merit-Based Medicare Payment for Physicians – The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is reviewing a proposed rule that would implement the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for physicians in 2019 based on physician performance grades or physician participation in alternative payment models.  MIPS was established by Congress in 2015 as part of the replacement of the Medicare sustainable growth rate.

Bill Introduced to Delay Implementation of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Program – On March 24, 2016, Rep. Tom Price and Rep. David Scott introduced H.R. 4848, a bill to delay the implementation of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (“CJR”) program from April 1, 2016, to January 2018.  Under the CJR model, certain hospitals will receive retrospective bundled payments for lower extremity joint replacement or lower extremity reattachment, including all related care provided within 90 days of discharge.  The final rule, published in November, is available here.  A press release about H.R. 4848 is available here.