HHS Secretary Azar: HHS Is Planning New Mandatory Bundled Payment Models

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revisiting mandatory bundled payment models, possibly for radiation oncology and cardiac care, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, which signals a strong about-face in the Trump Administration's policy about bundled payment initiatives.

HHS is reexamining the role that mandatory bundled payment models can play in the transition to value-based care, Azar said in a keynot speech at the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative Conference on Thursday. HHS published Azar's comments.

In the publiched remarks, Azar said the Trump Administration is revisiting mandatory bundled payments and exploring new voluntary bundled payments as part of the Administration's goal of paying for outcomes, rather than process.

"We need results, American patients need change, and when we need mandatory models to deliver it, mandatory models are going to see a comeback," Azar said.