60-second self-check

Are you a forced buyer of value-based MSK care — and by when?

Two CMS models make musculoskeletal value-based accountability mandatory, with no opt-out. Answer three questions to see whether TEAM or the Ambulatory Specialty Model puts you or your surgeons at financial risk on the episode — and the deadline to be ready.

1. What kind of organization are you?

TEAM holds acute-care hospitals accountable; ASM holds individual specialists accountable.

2. Do you (or your surgeons) perform Medicare lower-extremity joint replacement?

Knee and hip replacement are TEAM surgical episodes.

3. Do you (or your surgeons) treat Medicare low-back-pain patients — roughly 20+ a year?

The ASM low-back cohort includes orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, PM&R, pain management, interventional pain, and anesthesiology.

4. Is your metro one of CMS's selected areas?

CMS selects roughly one-quarter of U.S. metro areas (CBSAs) for each model. The Colorado Front Range — Denver–Aurora and Boulder — is in the ASM low-back cohort.

Estimate the dollars per case → See the ASC program

The two mandates

Both are mandatory. Neither lets you opt out.

TEAM · live now

Transforming Episode Accountability Model

Selected acute-care hospitals carry financial risk for the full 30-day episode — including readmissions and post-acute spend — on lower-extremity joint replacement and other surgeries. Mandatory Jan 1, 2026 through 2030. CMS TEAM →

ASM · Jan 1, 2027

Ambulatory Specialty Model

Individual specialists — orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, PM&R, pain, and more — treating 20+ Medicare low-back-pain episodes a year in a selected metro face ±9% of Part B (rising to ±12%), scored against regional peers. Mandatory 2027–2031. CMS ASM →