The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has delayed until January 1, 2018 the start of the cardiac care bundles.  CMS has also delayed the expansion of the hip-and-knee joint replacement bundle entitled Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR).   Commonly referred to as EPM’s (Episode Payment Models), CMS says it wants more time to undertake notice and comment rulemaking and to determine if changes to these EPMs are warranted.  CMS said that among other comments, it received many comments saying that the program should be made voluntary instead of mandatory and that they bundles should be delayed.