News: HHS reaches goal of tying 30 percent of Medicare payments to quality
March 17, 2016
CDI Strategies - Volume 10, Issue 11
An estimated 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to alternative payment models that reward the quality of care, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. And CMS hit this milestone nearly a year ahead of schedule, based on a timeline the administration developed in January 2015. CMS estimates that roughly $117 billion out of a projected $380 billion Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) payments are tied to alternative payment models as of January 2016.
Today, there are 477 Medicare Accountable Care Organizations participating in these quality incentive programs, according to the release. As the healthcare industry ventures further into a quality-based environment, CDI professionals will need to adjust their focus and ensure documentation supports the quality of care, not just the quantity of services provided to beneficiaries.