The AAMC, as part of its response to the FY 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule, submitted a June 10 comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), a new mandatory episode-based payment model. TEAM episodes included are coronary artery bypass graft, lower extremity joint replacement, major bowel procedures, surgical hip/femur fracture treatment, and spinal fusion.
In its comment letter, the AAMC noted the necessity of mandatory models for the CMS to meet its goal of 100% of Medicare beneficiaries in accountable care relationships, but recommended that the agency:
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Reduce the discount factor and include more extensive variables to the risk adjustment.
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Align health-related social needs data collection with requirements established in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting program.
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Increase guardrails for safety-net hospitals.
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Include additional quality measures to create alignment across programs.
If finalized, TEAM would start Jan. 1, 2026, and end Dec. 31, 2030.