Are Hospitals Procrastinating on TEAM Model Work?

Healthcare Innovation January 26, 2026
David Raths

Cedar Gate Technologies’ Tobin Lassen describes what hospitals chosen for the mandatory model should be focusing on before facing downside risk

Key Highlights

The TEAM model mandates 741 hospitals to coordinate care for specific surgical episodes, with financial risk starting in 2027, emphasizing improved patient outcomes and cost control.
Transitioning from fee-for-service to bundled payments requires hospitals to enhance care coordination, analytics, and provider performance management well before the risk becomes substantial.
Effective collaboration with primary and post-acute care providers, including data sharing and aligned goals, is essential for success in the new episode-based payment environment.
CMS is likely to expand bundled payment models beyond initial procedures, making early adoption and readiness critical for hospitals aiming to stay competitive...

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