• Medicare Chronic Care Management is for members with two or more chronic conditions.
  • You can get help managing your condition with Medicare Chronic Care Management.
  • With Medicare Chronic Care Management, your medications, appointments, and services can all be managed by one healthcare provider.
  • Medicare Chronic Care Management is covered under Medicare Part B.

Medicare Chronic Care Management (CCM) helps members with chronic conditions receive coordinated care and reach their treatment goals.

A chronic condition is any condition that lasts for at least a year and limits your daily activities or requires regular medical care. According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six in ten Americans have a chronic condition. Additionally, four in ten Americans have two or more chronic conditions. If you’re among them, CCM might be for you.

There can be a lot to juggle when you have a chronic condition. There could be medications, appointments, therapies, and more that you need to keep track of. CCM is designed to help with that.

Under CCM, you’ll make a comprehensive care plan. You’ll make this plan with your healthcare provider. The plan will include:

  • your health problems
  • your health goals
  • your medications
  • the care you need
  • any community services you need
  • the healthcare providers treating you

You’ll sign an agreement with your healthcare provider to manage this plan. Once the plan is in place, your healthcare provider will be able to:

  • manage your care across providers
  • coordinate your care between hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics
  • manage the medications you take
  • provide round-the-clock access to emergency care
  • teach you about your conditions and your medications
  • help you meet your health goals
  • manage community services such as transportation to appointments
  • provide at least 20 minutes a month of dedicated CCM services

The number of services your plan includes will depend on the severity of your conditions and how much help you need to manage them. CCM services offer personalized attention from your healthcare provider. They can help you feel more in control of your conditions.

The first step to getting CCM is visiting a provider. Your CCM provider can be any Medicare-approved provider, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants. You’ll need to make this visit face-to-face. You can ask your primary care physician if they provide CCM services. In many cases, your provider might be the one to suggest a CCM to you if they think you’re a good candidate.

Your first visit will be an evaluation. The provider can then make a care management plan for you. The provider or a member of their team will go over the plan with you and allow you to ask questions. You can cancel or transfer this plan to another provider at any time. You need to sign this form for your CCM to take effect.

Your provider will take care of making sure your CCM services are covered by Medicare once you’ve had your first appointment and have signed your CCM plan.

Medicare has a few eligibility requirements for CCM. Your healthcare provider can help you determine if you qualify. In general, if you’re a Medicare beneficiary, you can qualify if you have two or more chronic conditions that both:

  • are expected to last at least 12 months or until your death
  • put you at risk of death, decline, or decompensation

Your CCM needs to be planned and monitored by a Medicare-approved provider.

There are many conditions that can qualify you for a CCM plan. Common chronic conditions include:

However, Medicare doesn’t limit what can be called a chronic condition. Any two conditions that meet the rules can qualify you for a CCM.

CCM is covered under Medicare Part B. This means that Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost of service. You’ll be responsible for a coinsurance payment of 20 percent. This means that if an appointment has a cost of $50, you’ll pay $10 and Medicare Part B will pay $40.

Medicare Part B also has a monthly premium for most people. The standard Part B premium in 2020 is $144.60.

Your costs might look different. For example, if you’re enrolled in a Medigap plan, it will cover your coinsurance costs. You might not have to pay anything for your CCM if you have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans cover all the services of Medicare parts A and B, including CCM plans. Your costs will probably be different under an Advantage plan. You might need to pay an additional premium, or might have a lower set copayment amount. You can use the Medicare website to search for Advantage plans in your area and see what your costs might be.

How to know if you’re enrolled in Medicare Chronic Care Management

Your doctor will go over a CCM plan form with you. This form will outline your CCM and the services you’ll receive. You’ll need to sign this form before you’re enrolled in CCM.

You can enroll in CCM anytime after you’ve enrolled in Medicare Part B or a Medicare Advantage Plan. You can’t be enrolled in a CCM if you’re only enrolled in Medicare Part A. Medicare has several rolling enrollment windows every year that allow you to make changes to your plan and benefits.

Initial Medicare enrollment occurs around your 65th birthday. You can enroll as early as 3 months before the month of your birthday or as late as 3 months after. You’ll have to pay a late enrollment fee if you wait longer. You can enroll in Medicare before you turn 65 if you have a disability and have been receiving Social Security for two years.

  • Medicare CCM is a great way for people with multiple chronic conditions to get help managing their health.
  • With a CCM, a healthcare provider will coordinate the services you need to manage your conditions and reach your health goals.
  • Medicare Part B and many Medicare Advantage plans cover CCM plans.