Medicare and Medicaid
CMS expands joint replacement model and lists 2,217 participating hospitals
CJR-X is scheduled to begin nationwide Jan. 1, 2028, with most hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System required to participate.
CMS announced a nationwide expansion of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, known as CJR-X, to begin Jan. 1, 2028. CMS has published a list of hospitals for the model. As of Sept. 30, 2026, 2,217 acute care hospitals meet the participant definition, Becker’s Hospital Review reported.
Most hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System will be required to participate, with exceptions for hospitals in the Transforming Episode Accountability Model, those in Maryland and those not paid under both the Inpatient and Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems, according to Healio. Under CJR-X, hospitals will be accountable for Medicare expenditures related to joint replacement surgery, hospitalization and the initial 90 days of recovery after discharge, including follow-up treatments such as physical therapy, CMS said.
