BS: Hospitals that have been participating in bundles for years are at a clear advantage, as are hospitals that specialize in cardiac care because they're well-versed and experienced in managing this patient population. My advice to providers is to learn from those who have already improved quality, reduced readmissions and mortality rates, and cost reductions in this area.
I also would suggest finding a partner who has experience in adapting to bundled payments. Partners can provide a readiness assessment, which would include an in-depth evaluation of your post-acute assets—their readmission rates, length of stay, cost and spend data. The goal is to have a strategy and process around bundled payments, whatever the care path, so that you're ready for the next bundle