Medicare has recognized the importance of chronic care management, providing reimbursement for such care since 2015. Two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries have two or more chronic conditions, and one-third have four or more chronic conditions. Even with that coverage, health care providers have been slow to establish chronic care management (CCM) programs; they often provide such care, such as reviewing test results and coordinating care with other providers, but are unaware that separate payments for CCM are available.
In March, Medicare introduced Connected Care, a new nationwide public health education program to raise awareness of the benefits of chronic care management services for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions and to provide health care providers with support to implement CCM programs.
The initiative will focus on racial and ethnic minorities, as well as rural populations, who tend to have higher rates of chronic disease.
For a free toolkit and other resources at no cost, read more here. KMA members can also contact Medical Business Advocacy Manager Lindy Lady at lady@kyma.org with questions about setting up a chronic care management program.
