In the context of bundled payments, what does an 'episode boundary' specify?

• A. The start and end of the clinical episode across settings.
• B. The geographic boundary of care.
• C. The boundary of the patient’s family care.
• D. The time zone of care.

Answer: (A)

In bundled payments, an episode boundary marks the start and end of the care included in a single payment, defining the time window that covers an entire clinical episode across settings. It typically begins at an anchor event, such as the index hospitalization or first treatment, and ends after a defined post-episode period (for example 30, 60, or 90 days). This boundary makes sure all related services—whether inpatient, outpatient, or post-acute—are wrapped into one payment, encouraging care coordination and cost control across the continuum. It is not about geographic boundaries, family care boundaries, or time zones.