CMS, HRSA release Medicare chronic care management resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of Minority Health and Health Resources and Service Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy today launched an educational initiative for Medicare patients and health care professionals on the benefits of chronic care management services. The Connected Care initiative includes toolkits, posters and other resources for providers and patients. CMS adopted a separately payable Medicare Part B billing code for CCM services in 2015, which allows eligible practitioners to bill for at least 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a physician or other qualified health care professional per calendar month for activities to manage and coordinate care for Medicare and dual eligible beneficiaries with two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months or until death. In January, it adopted three additional codes to recognize additional costs, including those related to more complex medical management.