Chronic Care Management: An Emerging Opportunity for Pharmacists

Chronic care management (CCM) aims to improve health outcomes by enhancing care coordination for patients with multiple chronic conditions. However, few incentives have been provided in recent years for health care professionals to engage in models that improve care coordination. These potential models could help avoid poor health outcomes that lead to hospitalizations and rehospitalizations. Fortunately, in January 2015, under Medicare's physician fee schedule, Medicare began paying separately for CCM services. Qualified health care providers are reimbursed for these coordination of care services. Though pharmacists cannot bill Medicare for these services, they are in a prime position to deliver CCM services and be paid by forming contractual and collaborative partnerships with qualified providers. CCM bridges the gap between fee-for-service and value-based payment models by focusing on care coordination among health care providers.