CMS re-opens BPCI program registration - New deadline is April 18, 2014

Friday, March 7, 2014 | Jennifer Linville

Dear Colleagues:

I am sure that you have heard or read something about the Medicare Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Program (BPCI). The BPCI program now enables physicians to become "Episode Initiators" and to share in cost savings derived from reductions in nursing home utilization, avoidable readmissions and duplicative testing and services. These savings result from a more patient-centric approach to treating patients during an episode of care, beginning in most cases with a hospital admission and continuing through the 90-day period following discharge. Physicians who provide services to Medicare "fee for service" patients can achieve significant financial rewards under this program, as demonstrated in early tests of this new payment model and informed by more advanced bundled payment settings where savings levels have exceeded 25%. Physicians are particularly well positioned under this program because their fees generally account for less than 5% of the billing in an episode of care, yet physicians can influence or control over 80% of the episode spending.

Remedy Partners currently operates the largest program within the BPCI initiative. As an Awardee Convener (general contractor status designated by CMS), Remedy Partners has existing or prospective partners in all 50 states. Our successful partnerships in the existing 2013 program and our ability to attract a large group of prospective partners for our 2014 program is due to our comprehensive end-to-end solution comprising advanced analytics, bundle design, care reengineering, technology, consulting, call centers, provider contracting, financing and risk management. The Remedy Partners model offers Episode Initiators a sliding scale of pricing options to manage the balance between shared savings and risk retention as well as accommodating varying levels of operational needs.

CMS has just opened a limited window for additional physician groups to participate in this program. To secure the opportunity to consider launching a bundled payment program with Remedy Partners, physician groups must sign a non-binding letter of intent by April 18, 2014 and provide requisite practice information. By signing this letter of intent, you will be able to work with Remedy in gaining access to data that will allow you to evaluate the opportunities for your practice in the BPCI program. There is no requirement or commitment to enter the program until you have had a chance to evaluate your data and properly assess participation. If you choose to join the program, your participation would officially begin on January 1, 2015.

I highly encourage someone from your practice to attend one of these webinars to familiarize your team with the program and to position your practice to take advantage of this limited window to enter the program. If you have any questions or are unable to attend either of these webinars but still wish to learn about the bundled payment program, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or call me at 904-742-1297.

Jennifer Linville
CEO


To assist in making a decision about participating in the BCPI Program, below are links to:

1. A Brief Overview of the Remedy Partners BPCI Program

2. RSVPs for webinars to be conducted by Remedy Partners Founder and Chairman, Steve Wiggins:
* 2:00 pm EST on March 11th
* 2:00 pm EST on March 18th

3. The requisite forms for executing our non-binding letter of intent