CMS is implementing the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) to improve patient care. By making hospitals responsible for the cost and quality of patient care throughout certain treatment episodes, this model focuses on value and quality rather than volume (which is frequently the focus of traditional healthcare systems). Set to launch in 2026, the CMS Team Model is a systematic, patient-centered strategy to improve healthcare outcomes overall, not just another cost-cutting measure.
This model focuses on care episodes—defined treatment periods that begin with a procedure or hospital admission and extend 30 days post-discharge. Hospitals are in charge of both the initial treatment and providing high-quality follow-up care throughout this time. This may help to prevent problems or readmissions. Primary care physicians and specialists must collaborate closely under TEAM to prevent patients from getting lost in the shuffle. All patients who are discharged from hospitals must receive a recommendation from their primary care physician, maintaining the emphasis on seamless treatment across providers.