Why Top Ortho Groups Are Mandating AJRR Participation Before 2026 MIPS Deadline
- SolvEdge
- Jan 05, 2026
- 6 mins read
Leading orthopedic groups across the U.S. are issuing internal mandates: full surgeon participation in the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) by mid-2025. With the 2026 MIPS ortho registry deadline looming and CMS TEAM bundles ortho launching mandatory episode accountability, registry enrollment is shifting from optional to strategic imperative.
High-volume practices—especially multi-site groups performing thousands of joints annually—are recognizing that AJRR orthopedic participation delivers benchmarking, payer leverage, and compliance advantages competitors can’t match. Those lagging risk falling behind in quality rankings, contract negotiations, and bundle performance.
The 2026 Ortho Registry Tipping Point
CMS continues to tighten quality reporting:
MIPS 2026: Registry participation increasingly weighted for merit-based payments.
CMS TEAM Bundles: Starting January 2026, episode outcomes (including PROMs and complications) directly impact reconciliation.
Payer Pressure: Commercial plans and employers favor registry-submitting groups for preferred networks.
Practices without robust AJRR benefits multi-site ortho practices data face revenue exposure and competitive disadvantage.
Why Top Groups Are Acting Now
Elite ortho organizations mandate AJRR for four critical reasons:
1. Unmatched Benchmarking and Variation Reduction
Surgeon- and implant-level outcomes compared against national peers.
Mako outcomes AJRR benchmarking reveals precision advantages—often 15–20 points higher functional scores.
Identifies outliers early, driving ortho registry MIPS revenue 2026 protection.
2. Payer and Employer Leverage
Registry data strengthens contract negotiations with commercial payers.
Employers and COEs prioritize groups with transparent, validated outcomes.
Positions practices as preferred providers in narrow networks.
3. CMS TEAM Bundle Readiness
Required infrastructure for mandatory episode reporting.
PROMs and revision rates already captured for reconciliation modeling.
Early participants gain first-mover advantage in shared savings.
4. Marketing and Recruitment Edge
Publicly reported excellence attracts patients and top talent.
Supports “New England ortho registry compliance” leadership positioning.
The Cost of Waiting: Real Competitive Gaps
Multi-site groups like those in Connecticut and New England performing 5,000+ joints annually but with limited registry participation face:
No national benchmarking for Mako PRO analytics ortho registry
Weaker payer negotiations
Higher risk in 2026 bundle performance
Missed opportunity to lead regional quality conversations
Top groups close this gap aggressively.
How Leading Practices Implement AJRR Successfully
| Step | Timeline | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Mandate & Surgeon Buy-In | Q1 2025 | 100% participation commitment |
| Workflow Integration | Q2 2025 | Seamless data submission |
| Dashboard Activation | Q3 2025 | Real-time benchmarking |
| Outcomes Optimization | Q4 2025–2026 | MIPS / TEAM performance gains |
Secure Your Competitive Advantage Before 2026
Top orthopedic groups aren’t waiting for mandates—they’re building registry infrastructure now to dominate outcomes, contracts, and bundles.
Connecticut and New England ortho leaders: Request your complimentary AJRR Readiness Assessment and 2026 MIPS/TEAM strategy review today.