Medicare Launches TEAM Program to Improve Recovery After Surgery

Medicare is launching a new program designed to improve how seniors recover after major surgeries. The initiative, called the Transforming Episode Accountability Model, or TEAM, aims to help hospitals coordinate care more closely so patients experience smoother recoveries and fewer complications after leaving the hospital.

The program began in 2026 and focuses on a common problem in health care: fragmented care. In many cases, different doctors, therapists, and health services do not always communicate effectively with each other. That lack of coordination can lead to medication problems, missed follow-up appointments, or unexpected trips back to the emergency room.

Under the TEAM program, hospitals are held responsible not only for the surgery itself but also for the patient’s recovery period for up to 30 days after discharge. The goal is to ensure that all parts of a patient’s care work together.

That coordination may include follow-up doctor visits, physical therapy, home health services, and skilled nursing care if needed. By improving communication among providers, Medicare hopes to reduce preventable complications and avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions.

The program is especially important for older adults undergoing major procedures such as hip replacements, knee replacements, or heart bypass surgeries, where recovery often requires help from several different medical providers.

For example, consider a 75-year-old patient recovering from knee replacement surgery. In the past, a patient might leave the hospital with complex instructions and struggle to schedule physical therapy or follow-up care. If swelling or pain developed, the patient might end up returning to the emergency room because doctors were not fully informed about the recovery plan.

Under TEAM, hospitals are encouraged to assign a care coordinator who helps guide the recovery process. The coordinator may check in regularly, arrange therapy appointments or home visits, and ensure that doctors and other providers share information about the patient’s progress.

Supporters say the approach could lead to faster healing, less confusion for patients, and fewer stressful hospital returns.

The program is being rolled out at 741 hospitals across 188 regions nationwide. Participation is mandatory for selected hospitals so Medicare can gather consistent data about how well the model works.

TEAM will operate as a five-year pilot program, running from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030. During that time, Medicare will study whether stronger care coordination leads to better health outcomes and lower costs.

If the program proves successful, it could influence how Medicare structures surgical care and recovery programs in the future.

For seniors and their families, the hope is simple: better communication among doctors, fewer complications after surgery, and a smoother path back to everyday life.