The prevalence of chronic conditions presents one of the greatest risks to the U.S in terms of population health and well-being. However, many serious conditions such as hypertension or hyperlipidemia can be successfully managed if the patient follows a clearly documented treatment plan. To that end, changes to the chronic care management model by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers an out-of-the-box approach to improve the outcomes for patients with two or more chronic conditions. Medical practitioners can bill non-face-to-face communications with Medicare beneficiaries, reducing the need for costly direct evaluations when a simple instruction may be all that is needed.
Recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan, CMS Changes in Chronic Care Management: Is it Really a Bridge to Value-based Care?(http://www.frost.com/q294859662), finds that despite a list of cons, the potential merits of this program demonstrate value. Even though it falls short of the new payment taxonomy and true telehealth, this approach to chronic care management is a transitional phase, beginning in the old world of Medicare while possessing the potential to evolve with changing demands.