What is the significance of the 90-day post-acute period in major bundles like CJR?

• A. It defines the length of the hospital stay.
• B. It defines the length of the episode for determining the bundled payment and potential shared savings.
• C. It only affects pre-acute care.
• D. It is unrelated to payments.

Answer: (B)

In bundled payment models like CJR, the payment is built around an episode that includes the index hospitalization plus a 90-day post-acute period. That 90-day window defines the length of the episode used to set the bundled payment amount and to determine any shared savings or required repayments. All costs and care within those 90 days—post-acute services, potential readmissions, and related care—are counted in the episode, which is why the window is central to how the bundle is priced and reconciled. It isn’t about the hospital stay length itself, nor is it limited to pre-acute care, and it is directly tied to payments through the target price and potential savings or penalties.