The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2018
Coronary artery bypass grafting bundled payment proposal will have significant financial impact on hospitals.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to institute a 5-year trial of bundled payments for coronary artery bypass grafting through 90 days after discharge. To investigate the impact, we reviewed actual inpatient costs for patients undergoing bypass surgery relative to the target price. ⋯ Hospitals will face immediate financial pressure due to average cost increases of 3.6% per year and an automatic reduction in payment. As regional pricing is phased in, hospitals can expect to owe Medicare increasing amounts. The net effect is shifting of financial risks to hospitals, which could restrict access to care for higher-risk patients.