CMS delays launch of Kidney Care Choices demonstration
CMS has postponed the launch of the Kidney Care Choices payment model demonstration, set to begin in April.
“The Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model’s first performance year start date will now be January 1, 2022,” the agency announced on the KCC website. “CMS looks forward to sharing additional information when available.”
CMS said on the website that “the implementation period will extend through 2021 to enable model participants to prepare to take on financial and population health accountability starting in January 2022.”
The KCC model is designed to operate for 5 performance years.
KCC was the second component of new payment models developed by CMS as part of the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative, approved by an executive order and signed by then President Donald J. Trump in July 2019. In January, the ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) payment model demonstration began after a 1-year delay.
While ETC focuses on increasing the number of cases of home dialysis and transplantation, the aim of the KCC model is to bring nephrologists and health care teams together to treat patients with chronic kidney disease.
The model currently has four payment options: CMS Kidney Care First (KCF), Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting Graduated option, CKCC Professional option and CKCC Global option.
In KCF, participating nephrologists and nephrology practices will receive capitated payments for managing care of aligned beneficiaries with CKD stages 4 or 5, and for those on dialysis. The payments will be adjusted on the basis of health outcomes and utilization compared to both the participants’ own experience and national standards, and also performance on quality measures, CMS said.
In addition, KCF practices will receive a bonus payment for every aligned beneficiary who receives a kidney transplant, with the full amount of the bonus ($15,000) paid in the 3 years following the transplant, provided the transplant remains successful.
Under the Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting - Graduated, Professional and Global options, the capitated payments will be similar to the KCF option, but the Kidney Contracting Entities (KCEs) - nephrologists, transplant providers and other health care providers including dialysis facilities - will take responsibility for the total cost and quality of care for their patients. In exchange, KCEs can receive a portion of the Medicare savings they achieve.
Reference:
https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/kidney-care-choices-kcc-model