"Medicare has achieved greater success with programs that have raised the stakes -- ones that have put hospitals and health care organizations at greater risk of financial loss or have offered prospects for larger financial gain. One popular approach, called 'bundled payments,' pays health providers one amount for all of the care for a certain condition within a certain period -- like 90 days for hip replacement care. There is evidence that some of these programs can save money without reductions in quality, although design details matter."  MORE >>