According to the Marion County Health Department, more than 71,000 Marion County seniors – about 17% – have at least six long-term ailments. Those sickest seniors account for more than 41% of dollars spent on Medicare in the county.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes care management as one of the critical components of primary care that contributes to better health and care for these individuals. As a result, CMS is encouraging primary-care practitioners to spend extra time coordinating complex chronic disease cases.

HealthNet Southwest Health Center will begin a Chronic Care Management pilot program in January 2016 to address this need among qualifying Medicare patients. Watch for updates in future newsletters to learn more about this new, innovative program that encourages health care providers and patients to focus on care issues in between (and in addition to) the traditional face-to-face office visits.