People dealing with multiple chronic illnesses typically must manage pain and other symptoms on a daily or even hourly basis. Pain relief medications can be effective at managing pain, but many public health officials and practitioners are wary of the risks associated with these medications, especially potent opioid-based medicines. A 2003 study conducted by the…
As Congress gets set to pause, repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare), people with chronic conditions may be concerned about specific Medicare benefits that might be eliminated or significantly altered. Among these are prescription drug benefits, Medicaid, and limits on Premiums. Prescription Benefits The ACA expanded prescription drug benefits…
One of the more recent developments in neuroscience is in the area of neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to “rewire” itself in real time. Many studies have found that it is possible through cognitive therapy and other practices to ward off negative thinking, and to modify behavior by thinking away undesired habits. In his book,…
Chronic Care Management (CCM) is a Medicare program launched in 2015 that reimburses doctors for “non-face-to-face” contact with patients with two or more chronic conditions. A chronic condition can be anything from high blood pressure to diabetes, and these conditions represent 15 percent of the U.S. population and 80 percent of the Medicare spending. The…
Some 30 percent of medical prescriptions never get filled, according to a study cited by the New York Times. The study also found that patients that see the doctor more frequently are more likely to fill their prescriptions, and that medicines with high co-pays were less likely to be purchased. The correlation between doctor contact…
Dementia–just mention the word and we get nervous. Older adults fear it, and younger adults fear it for their parents and other loved ones. Unfortunately, this fear often deters people from talking about the signs of dementia, or causes denial that signs exist in ourselves or family members. We’ll talk of “senior moments” when we…
Its no secret that care for patients with chronic health conditions are the most costly segment of patients on Medicare, with some 93 percent of Medicare spending going to people with more than one chronic conditions. Enter Chronic Care Management (CCM), Medicare’s attempt to reduce these costs by allowing healthcare providers to offer 20-minute “non-face-to-face”…
Medicare’s Chronic Care Management (CCM) program reimburses doctors for at least 20 minutes of “non-face-to-face” care–in other words, communication via telephone, computer, or mobile device. The goal is to reduce the cost of care for people with multiple chronic conditions with more frequent and more convenient check-ins to monitor the patient’s condition and catch small…
In its annual review of billing requirements, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced proposed changes that will expand the codes physicians can use to get reimbursed for Chronic Care Management (CCM). “These policies will give significant support to the practice of primary care and boost the time a physician can spend…
Since the beginning of 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has reimbursed physicians for the new CPT code 99490, which covers non-face-to-face consults of at least 20 minutes for patients with multiple (two or more) chronic conditions. There is no official “list” of chronic conditions but generally chronic conditions include Alzheimer’s disease,…