The Joint Utilization Management Program—Implementation of a Bundle Payment Model and Comparison Between Year 1 and 2 Results

Health care spending is projected to increase throughout the next decade alongside the number of total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) performed. Such growth places significant financial burden on the economic system. To address these concerns, Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) is becoming a favorable reimbursement model. The aim of this study is to present the outcomes with BPCI model focused on the post–acute care (PAC) phase and compare the outcomes between years 1 and 2 of implementation.

The Joint Utilization Management Program (JUMP) was implemented in January 2014. Inclusion criteria were Medicare patients undergoing primary unilateral in-patient TJA procedures, outpatient procedures that resulted in an in-hospital admission, and trauma episodes that required TJA. Scorecards monitoring surgeons’ performance and tracking length of stay (LOS) in the PAC setting were established. The data generated from these scorecards guided percentage sum-allocation from the total gain-shared sum among the participating providers.

A total of 683 JUMP patients were assessed over two years. PAC utilization decreased between 2014 and 2015. The average LOS was longer in year 1 than year 2 (4.50 vs 3.19 days). In-patient rehabilitation (IPR) decreased from 6.45% to 3.22%, with a decrease in IPR average LOS of 1.47 days. The rate of 30-day readmission was lower for JUMP patients in 2015 than 2014 (8.77% vs 10.56%), with day of readmission being earlier (11.91 days vs 13.71 days) in 2014.

Under the BPCI program, our experience with the JUMP model demonstrates higher efficiency of care in the PAC setting through reduced LOS, IPR admission rates, and 30-day readmission rate.