The Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) is the latest initiative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve care coordination and outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing major surgical procedures. Launching on January 1, 2026, TEAM is a five-year, mandatory, episode-based payment model designed to hold hospitals accountable for the cost and quality of care provided during a surgical episode and the 30 days following discharge.
With its focus on reducing readmissions and improving transitions of care, TEAM presents both opportunities and challenges for health systems. Repisodic is uniquely positioned to help hospitals thrive under this new model by enhancing discharge workflows through automation, improving post-acute care coordination, and driving better patient outcomes.
What is the TEAM Model?
The TEAM Model builds upon lessons learned from prior bundled payment models, such as Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI-A) and Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR), by aligning incentives across multiple providers for a broader range of clinical episodes. It was designed after extensive feedback from stakeholders and aims to encourage better care collaboration across the care continuum.
Key Features:
Mandatory Participation: Hospitals located in selected Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) and paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) are required to participate.
Target Price & Quality Accountability: Hospitals will receive a target price that includes Medicare spending during an episode of care, including inpatient stays, outpatient procedures, skilled nursing facility stays, and follow-up visits. Hospitals that stay under the target price and meet quality benchmarks can earn savings, while those exceeding the target may face repayment.
Emphasis on Primary Care Referrals: Hospitals must refer patients to primary care services to support long-term health outcomes and strengthen accountable care relationships.
Three Participation Tracks:
Track 1: No downside risk in the first year (up to three years for safety net hospitals).
Track 2: Lower risk and reward for certain hospitals.
Track 3: Higher levels of risk and reward for years 1–5.
Included Surgical Episodes:
Lower extremity joint replacement
Surgical hip femur fracture treatment
Spinal fusion
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Major bowel procedure
Challenges Health Systems Face with TEAM
With greater focus on longitudinal care, reducing unnecessary readmissions, and improving patient outcomes, health systems need innovative solutions that ensure seamless transitions between acute and post-acute care settings. While TEAM offers exciting opportunities for value-based success, it also presents significant challenges transitioning to the new model, including:
Complex Discharge Management: Coordinating discharges across multiple care settings is difficult, especially when managing a variety of providers and care teams.
Data Fragmentation: Siloed systems often prevent providers from having real-time insights into patient outcomes post-discharge.
Care Coordination Across Settings: Aligning inpatient, post-acute, and primary care providers requires seamless communication and shared accountability.
Readmission Risk: Without effective post-acute follow-up, patients are at higher risk of avoidable readmissions—jeopardizing both financial incentives and patient satisfaction.
How Repisodic Can Help Health Systems Succeed and Thrive in the TEAM Era
Repisodic’s discharge automation platform is designed to address these challenges head-on, enabling health systems to succeed in a TEAM-driven environment by:
Automating and Standardizing the Discharge Process
Repisodic replaces outdated legacy referral management systems with a modern, user-friendly platform that ensures consistent, efficient, and compliant discharge planning. By automating the referral process and providing real-time visibility into patient transitions, providers can better coordinate care, reducing delays and unnecessary costs.
Improving Post-Acute Care Coordination
With TEAM placing greater emphasis on longitudinal care, Repisodic ensures that patients are discharged to the most appropriate post-acute care providers. Our platform leverages data-driven insights to identify the best-fit facilities for each patient, improving outcomes and reducing readmissions.
Enhancing Patient Engagement and Satisfaction
Engaged and informed patients are key to driving success in value-based care. Repisodic empowers patients by providing them with clear, personalized options for post-acute care, enabling informed decision-making and fostering a smoother care transition.
Reducing Readmissions and Penalties
By facilitating seamless transitions and improving care coordination, Repisodic helps mitigate the risk of readmissions—a critical metric under the TEAM model. Our platform supports guiding patients to high quality post-acute care providers and ongoing communication, ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time.
Providing Actionable Insights to Optimize Performance
Repisodic offers robust reporting and analytics to track performance across care episodes to identify and increase utilization of high performing post-acute care partners. Health systems can identify trends, address gaps, and continuously refine their care delivery models to meet TEAM’s quality and cost benchmarks.
Why Partner with Repisodic?
As CMS continues its push toward value-based care through the TEAM model, health systems need innovative technology solutions and a trusted partner to remain competitive and financially sustainable. Repisodic equips hospitals with the technology and insights needed to reduce costs, improve outcomes, and achieve success in the TEAM era..
By partnering with Repisodic, health systems can confidently navigate the complexities of TEAM while delivering exceptional patient outcomes and achieving financial success.
Ready to automate your discharge process and succeed with TEAM?
Contact us today to learn how Repisodic can empower your organization to thrive.
