MedPac recognizes need for senior CM
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPac) recently released its Report to Congress: Medicare Payment Policy with recommendations for improving Medicare services to seniors and reducing Medicare fraud and abuse. The recommendations included in the 155-page document include the use of independent case managers to review care plans of Medicare recipients.
The specific recommendation calls for independent case managers to review the plan of care for Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services for extended periods to ensure the appropriateness of that care in meeting beneficiary needs.
MedPac says an independent case manager should review the care plans of chronic beneficiaries "to determine if the services provided are addressing the patient's needs." The report adds that the case manager would recommend appropriate changes in the plan of care to the certifying physician. The Commission believes that a case manager would not only help control Medicare expenditures, but also improve outcomes.
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