Humana launched a bundled payment program for Medicare Advantage patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
Announced March 12, the Spinal Fusion Episode-Based Model allows participating physicians and clinicians to receive additional payment for improving patients' health outcomes while lowering overall cost for the surgery. Outcomes will be measured by readmissions, cervical complications and lumbar complications.
The model has four inaugural orthopedic and neurosurgery practice participants: Fort Wayne (Ind.) Orthopedics; Fort Wayne-based Ortho NorthEast; Cincinnati-based Mayfield Brain & Spine; and Lynchburg-based OrthoVirginia.
Humana also said March 12 that it is expanding its bundled payment model for total hip or knee joint replacement procedures. Launched in 2016, the Total Joint Replacement Episode-Based Model now includes more than 60 medical practices across 19 states.