A Sampling of Alternative Payment Models

Understanding the current selection of CMS-approved alternative payment models is critical for providers in the current healthcare policy climate who wish to pursue alternatives to traditional reimbursement schemes. This has become a topic of increasing interest with the recent passage of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, as traditional fee-for-service payments will be altered-either positively or negatively-by criteria defined under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). This article offers a framework for current and proposed models being implemented or investigated by the CMS. Further exploration of the topic can be carried out through supplementary or primary sources to determine best fits for specific practice environments.