Longitudinal PROMs: Unlocking VBC Gains in Musculoskeletal Care
- SolvEdge
- Feb 02, 2026
- 5 mins read
The shift from volume to value is no longer a peripheral conversation in orthopedics—it is the governing economic reality of 2026. As CMS activates the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) and continues to refine the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) mandates, the difference between a high-performing orthopedic program and a struggling one lies in the data.
While many institutions treat Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) as a static compliance checkbox, elite organizations are leveraging longitudinal tracking to unlock massive ROI and secure their competitive standing.
The 2026 Mandate: From Snapshot to Story
In previous years, a single pre-op and post-op “snapshot” of a patient’s pain was sufficient for reporting. However, 2026 trends in reliable PROMs data demand a longitudinal approach. This means tracking functional recovery metrics at key intervals—7, 30, 90, and 365 days post-surgery.
Reduced Readmissions: AI-driven predictive analytics now flag “recovery plateaus” or score drops in real-time. Catching a potential complication on post-op day 14 via a PROM survey can prevent an expensive ER visit on day 20.
Physician-Led Consolidation: As independent practices consolidate into larger platforms, longitudinal data provides the “clinical currency” needed to negotiate better rates with private payers.
Enhanced Rankings: Top-tier rankings (like those held by Scripps Green) are increasingly tied to functional recovery gains rather than just “lack of complications.”
Quantifying the ROI of Functional Recovery
The financial incentive for perfecting PROM collection has never been higher. Under the 2026 CMS ortho bundles, a significant portion of reimbursement is tied to Matched PROMs—requiring at least 50% of patients to complete both pre- and post-operative assessments.
Institutions that master this “longitudinal loop” are seeing:
22–38% reduction in 90-day readmissions.
42% increase in contribution margin per case through optimized post-acute spend.
20% growth in safe surgical volume by identifying patients most likely to succeed in an ASC vs. hospital setting.
“The hospitals that treat PROMs as a compliance burden will bleed margin. The ones that treat them as a clinical engine will lead the market.”
Strategy for 2026: ASC vs. Hospital Outcomes
The migration of high-acuity spine and joint procedures to Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) is a defining theme of the year. To stay competitive, hospitals must prove that their higher costs are justified by superior long-term outcomes. Longitudinal PROMs are the only way to provide a head-to-head comparison of post-surgical functional recovery metrics between care settings, allowing hospitals to retain complex cases that require their specific infrastructure.
The Path Forward
Unlocking the gains of value-based care requires moving beyond the “data collection” phase and into the “data utilization” phase. When PROMs become a predictive tool rather than a retrospective report, the path to clinical excellence and financial stability becomes clear.