The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving and with that, so is the way we manage chronic care. In the past, chronic care management (CCM) was focused on episodic visits to the doctor. However, as our knowledge of the disease has improved, so have our strategies for treating it. So today, CCM is about much more than just managing individual episodes of care. In this article, we’ll explore the evolution of CCM and how it’s helping people with chronic conditions live better lives.
What is Chronic Care Management?
Chronic care management (CCM) is a term that is used to describe the comprehensive care of patients with chronic conditions. Chronic conditions are defined as any condition that lasts for more than three months and requires ongoing medical attention. Examples of chronic conditions include diabetes, heart disease, COPD, etc. The goal of CCM is to help patients better manage their chronic conditions so that they can live healthier and happier lives. This is done by providing patients with the education, resources, and support they need to better self-manage their condition.
In addition, it will also benefit you if you check out the billing guidelines for chronic care management, as it will help you understand how it is billed. There are five CPT codes that providers can utilize when billing for CCM that is CPT 99490, CPT 99439, CPT 99487, CPT 99489, and CPT 99491. In general, this kind of treatment will be provided through a care plan tailored to each patient’s needs.
The History of Chronic Care Management
CCM has come a long way since it was first introduced in 2015. The Beginning of CCM was to provide people with multiple chronic conditions optimize their health and improve their care. In 2017, CMS created new complex CPT codes to reimburse providers for CCM services. This was a big step forward as it allowed providers to be reimbursed for the time and resources they were putting into caring for their chronic care patients.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the healthcare system. One of the biggest impacts was on CCM. The pandemic highlighted the importance of CCM and its role in helping people with chronic conditions manage their health. In response to the pandemic, CMS made several changes to the CCM program, including increasing the number of chronic conditions that could be managed under the program and increasing the reimbursement rate for CCM services.
In 2021, CMS released a new rule that will increase the reimbursement rate for CCM services by an additional 25%. This is a significant increase that will help providers offset the increased costs of providing CCM services. In addition, CMS also released a new bill, H.R. 475, which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of CCM services for patients with multiple chronic conditions. And finally, the Relative Value Unit (RVU) for CCM services was increased, which will result in higher payments for providers.
To Conclude
Now you know a little more about how chronic care management has changed over the years. The healthcare landscape is always changing, and it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. So, if you’re a provider who is interested in offering CCM services, be sure to work with a billing company that can stay on top of the latest changes and ensures you’re getting reimbursed for your services.
