What Are the Key Goals of Chronic Care Management?
Chronic Care Management (CCM) can help patients achieve improved health outcomes. The C...
August 13, 2018
While the term chronic care management may not be a household phrase in the United States, the phrase “chronic illness” most definitely is. According to the National Health Council, 133 million Americans have at least one chronic illness. That is approximately 45{ed3bd030c7866d13759bf690da8a42da29309e7154bf0066ae38b1c082e5c39d} of the U.S. population. Finding ways to provide an increased quality of care to these individuals has become a priority for many healthcare providers across the country.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) took initiative in 2015 when they started to pay providers for their monthly visits with patients who have two or more chronic conditions. Since this incentive program was set into place, patients who need chronic care management services are receiving a higher quality of care from their health care providers. Likewise, providers are adding an additional revenue stream to their practice for the extra care extended to these patients. Read on as we break down how chronic care management is proving successful for both patients and providers.
The first half of what makes Chronic Care Management so successful in 2023 is how it helps patients. Patients are seeing better care quality from their providers and are more satisfied with their providers overall. Here are some of the ways CCM is helping patients.
1) Care Coordination
In a perfect world, each one of a patient’s providers has all of the information they need to make the best medical decisions possible. With care coordination included in chronic care management services, this is possible. Patients can feel secure knowing that all of their medications, allergies, labs, and tests are communicated between each person on their care team. This helps all of the providers involved to care for their patient in the best way.
Not only this, but care coordinators are available to help patients at any time. This makes sure a patient’s questions are answered and any medication miscommunications are cleared up. Also, care coordinators can make sure patients are adhering to the care plan in place. All of this works together to increase the quality of care chronically ill patients are receiving.
2) Increased Resources for Patients
Chronic care management makes it possible for patients to attain more resources than ever before. The premise of chronic care management is that Medicaid is paying physicians to provide care to eligible patients. Not only are patients eligible for this resource, but many more. During the care coordination that occurs between visits, patients are connected to a surplus of resources. Whether it be financial resources or community resources, the patient’s care team works to connect them to different partners to meet their specific needs. Patients are receiving a more detailed version of healthcare than ever before with chronic care management.
Chronic care management benefits providers in many different aspects of their practice. Here are some examples.
1) Increase in Revenue
Adding chronic care management to a practice creates an entirely new stream of revenue for providers. There are most likely already patients within the practice who are eligible to receive chronic care management services and do not know about them or do not want to switch providers. By adding these services to a practice, providers meet the needs of their already existing patient base and create room for more patients to flow into that practice. With CCM, providers start earning money for visiting with patients who need them.
2) Increased Patient Satisfaction
Chronic care management is an excellent way to improve the patient satisfaction rate within a practice. With an increased quality of care that is personal and detailed, patients are happier with their providers overall. They feel that their health is a priority for their providers. Not only will this better the way existing patients see your practice, but it will draw new ones in.
Many providers are hesitant to offer chronic care management services because they are worried about the amount of time and energy it will take away from the practice overall. A great way to have success with chronic care management without stretching your practice too thin is outsourcing CCM services. To learn more about CCM services and how you can successfully outsource it, visit our HealthWatch CCM site (a division of iSalus) or request a free CCM consult.