CMS TEAM Model & Its Role in Advanced Payment Programs
Medicare payment programs keep moving toward value-based care that rewards quality over volume. The CMS TEAM Model marks a major shift in how Medicare pays for specialty care. It creates financial incentives for coordinated treatment delivery. This model targets expensive conditions like cancer and heart disease, where better coordination can improve patient outcomes. It also reduces unnecessary spending. What Is the CMS TEAM Model? The CMS TEAM Model stands for the Transforming Episode Accountability Model . It bundles payments for specific medical episodes rather than paying for each service separately. CMS created this model to encourage healthcare providers to work together during critical treatment periods. The model covers defined episodes of care from initial diagnosis through recovery or ongoing management. Key characteristics include: Episode-based payment bundles for specialty conditions Financial accountability is shared across provider teams Qualit...
