(a) Initiation of an episode. An episode is initiated when, with respect to a beneficiary described in § 510.205—

(1) The participant hospital admits the beneficiary for an anchor hospitalization; or

(2) On or after July 4, 2021, an anchor procedure is performed at the participant hospital.

(b) Exclusions. A hospital is excluded from being a participant hospital, but only so long as any of the following conditions apply:

(1) The hospital is an episode initiator for an LEJR episode in the risk-bearing period of Models 2 or 4 of BPCI.

(2) The hospital is participating in Model 1 of BPCI.

(3) These exclusions cease to apply as of the date that the hospital no longer meets any of the conditions specified in this paragraph.

[80 FR 73540, Nov. 24, 2015, as amended at 86 FR 23570, May 3, 2021]

(a) General. The geographic areas for inclusion in the CJR model are obtained based on a stratified random sampling of certain MSAs in the United States.

(1) All counties within each of the selected MSAs are selected for inclusion in the CJR model.

(2) Beginning with performance year 3, the selected MSAs are designated as either mandatory participation MSAs or voluntary participation MSAs.

(3) Beginning with performance year 6, only the 34 MSAs designated as mandatory participation MSAs as of performance year 3.

(b) Stratification criteria. Geographic areas in the United States are stratified according to the characteristics that CMS determines are necessary to ensure that the model is tested on a broad range of different types of hospitals that may face different obstacles and incentives for improving quality and controlling costs.

(c) Exclusions. CMS excludes from the selection of geographic areas MSAs that met the following criteria:

(1) Had fewer than 400 episodes between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

(2) Had fewer than 400 non-Model 1, 2, or 4 BPCI episodes as of October 1, 2015.

(3) Failed either or both of the following rules regarding participation in BPCI:

(i) More than 50 percent of eligible episodes initiated in a BPCI Model 2 or 4 initiating hospital.

(ii) More than 50 percent of eligible episodes that included SNF or HHA services, where the SNF or HHA services were furnished by a BPCI Model 3 initiating HHA or SNF.

(4) For MSAs including both Maryland and non-Maryland counties, more than 50 percent of eligible episodes were initiated at a Maryland hospital.

[80 FR 73540, Nov. 24, 2015, as amended at 82 FR 57103, Dec. 1, 2017; 86 FR 23570, May 3, 2021]

Participant hospitals, CJR collaborators, collaboration agents, downstream collaboration agents, and any other individuals or entities performing CJR activities must do all of the following:

(a) Allow the Government, including CMS, OIG, HHS and the Comptroller General or their designees, scheduled and unscheduled access to all books, contracts, records, documents and other evidence (including data related to utilization and payments, quality criteria, billings, lists of CJR collaborators, sharing arrangements, distribution arrangements, downstream distribution arrangements and the documentation required under §§ 510.500(d) and 510.525(c)) sufficient to enable the audit, evaluation, inspection or investigation of any of the following:

(1) The individual's or entity's compliance with CJR model requirements.

(2) The calculation, distribution, receipt, or recoupment of gainsharing payments, alignment payments, distribution payments, and downstream distribution payments.

(3) The obligation to repay any reconciliation payments owed to CMS.

(4) The quality of the services furnished to a CJR beneficiary during a CJR episode.

(5) The sufficiency of CJR beneficiary notifications.

(6) The accuracy of the CJR participant hospital's submissions under CEHRT use requirements.

(b) Maintain all such books, contracts, records, documents, and other evidence for a period of 10 years from the last day of the participant hospital's participation in the CJR model or from the date of completion of any audit, evaluation, inspection, or investigation, whichever is later, unless—

(1) CMS determines a particular record or group of records should be retained for a longer period and notifies the participant hospital at least 30 calendar days before the disposition date; or

(2) There has been a dispute or allegation of fraud or similar fault against the participant hospital, CJR collaborator, collaboration agents, downstream collaboration agent, or any other individual or entity performing CJR activities in which case the records must be maintained for 6 years from the date of any resulting final resolution of the dispute or allegation of fraud or similar fault.

[82 FR 612, Jan. 3, 2017]

(a) General. To continue participation in performance year 3 and participate in performance year 4 and performance year 5, the following hospitals must submit a written participation election letter as described in paragraph (c) of this section during the voluntary participation election period specified in paragraph (b) of this section:

(1) Hospitals (other than those excluded under § 510.100(b)) with a CCN primary address in a voluntary MSA.

(2) Low-volume hospitals with a CCN primary address in a mandatory MSA.

(3) Rural hospitals with a CCN primary address in a mandatory MSA.

(b) Voluntary participation election period. The voluntary participation election period begins on January 1, 2018 and ends on January 31, 2018.

(c) Voluntary participation election letter. The voluntary participation election letter serves as the model participation agreement. CMS accepts the voluntary participation election letter if the letter meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Includes the following:

(i) Hospital name.

(ii) Hospital address.

(iii) Hospital CCN.

(iv) Hospital contact name, telephone number, and email address.

(v) Model name (that is, CJR model).

(2) Includes a certification that the hospital will—

(i) Comply with all applicable requirements of this part and all other laws and regulations applicable to its participation in the CJR model; and

(ii) Submit data or information to CMS that is accurate, complete and truthful, including, but not limited to, the participation election letter and any quality data or other information that CMS uses in its reconciliation processes.

(3) Is signed by the hospital administrator, CFO or CEO.

(4) Is submitted in the form and manner specified by CMS.

[82 FR 57103, Dec. 1, 2017]

(a) CJR CEHRT use. For performance years 2 through 8, CJR participant hospitals choose either of the following:

(1) CEHRT use. Participant hospitals attest in a form and manner specified by CMS to their use of CEHRT as defined in § 414.1305 of this chapter to document and communicate clinical care with patients and other health professionals.

(2) No CEHRT use. Participant hospitals do not attest in a form and manner specified by CMS to their use of CEHRT as defined in § 414.1305 of this chapter to document and communicate clinical care with patients and other health professionals.

(b) Clinician financial arrangements list. Each participant hospital that chooses CEHRT use as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must submit to CMS a clinician financial arrangements list in a form and manner specified by CMS on a no more than quarterly basis. The list must include the following information on individuals and entities for the period of the CJR performance year specified by CMS:

(1) CJR collaborators. For each physician, nonphysician practitioner, or therapist in private practice who is a CJR collaborator during the period of the CJR performance year specified by CMS:

(i) The name, TIN, and NPI of the CJR collaborator.

(ii) The start date and, if applicable, end date, for the sharing arrangement between the CJR participant hospital and the CJR collaborator.

(2) Collaboration agents. For each physician, nonphysician practitioner, or therapist who is a collaboration agent during the period of the CJR performance year specified by CMS:

(i) The name and TIN of the CJR collaborator and the name, TIN, and NPI of the collaboration agent.

(ii) The start date and, if applicable, end date, for the distribution arrangement between the CJR collaborator and the collaboration agent.

(3) Downstream collaboration agents. For each physician, nonphysician practitioner, or therapist who is a downstream collaboration agent during the period of the CJR performance year specified by CMS—

(i) The name and TIN of the CJR collaborator and the name and TIN of the collaboration agent and the name, TIN, and NPI of the downstream collaboration agent.

(ii) The start date and, if applicable, end date, for the downstream distribution arrangement between the collaboration agent and the downstream collaboration agent.

(c) Clinician engagement list. Each participant hospital that chooses CEHRT use as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must submit to CMS a clinician engagement list in a form and manner specified by CMS on a no more than quarterly basis. This list must include the following information on individuals for the period of the performance year specified by CMS:

(1) For each physician, nonphysician practitioner, or therapist who is not a CJR collaborator during the period of the CJR model performance year specified by CMS but who does have a contractual relationship with the participant hospital based at least in part on supporting the participant hospital's quality or cost goals under the CJR model during the period of the performance year specified by CMS:

(i) The name, TIN, and NPI of the individual.

(ii) The start date and, if applicable, the end date for the contractual relationship between the individual and participant hospital.

(2) The CJR participant hospital must retain and provide access to the required documentation in accordance with § 510.110.

(d) Attestation to no individuals. If there are no individuals that meet the requirements to be reported, as specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) or paragraph (c) of this section, the participant hospital must attest in a form and manner required by CMS that there are no individuals to report.

(e) Documentation requirements. (1) Each participant hospital that chooses CEHRT use as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must maintain documentation of their attestation to CEHRT use, clinician financial arrangements lists, and clinician engagement lists.

(2) The participant hospital must retain and provide access to the required documentation in accordance with § 510.110.

[82 FR 612, Jan. 3, 2017, as amended at 82 FR 57103, Dec. 1, 2017; 86 FR 23570, May 3, 2021]