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May 3, 2022

May is Older Americans Month

Did you know?

  • There are an estimated 45 million Americans that are currently 65 years old and older.1 This number is projected to rise to 73 million by the year 2030.1
  • According to the Administration for Community Living, most older adults have at least one chromic condition that they are living with and almost 20% report some type of sensory (hearing/vision), mobility, communication, cognitive, and/or self-care issue.2

May has been designated as Older Americans Month. It is an opportune time to remind us of the importance taking caring for our family and friends aged 65 and over as well as ourselves so we can live all our years to the fullest.

You can assist patients with promoting healthy living as they grow older.

  • Encourage your patients to schedule annual wellness visits and preventive health screenings.
  • Assess your patient's physical health as well as mental well-being and cognitive health during medical visits.
    • Detection of any cognitive impairments is a required component of both the initial and subsequent Annual Wellness Visits (AWV).
  • Educate your patients on healthy habits such as exercising, eating a well-balanced diet including foods that are low in salt, fat, and cholesterol, controlling weight (or losing weight if needed), quitting smoking, refraining from or to limit use of alcohol, lowering stress levels, and getting enough sleep.
  • If applicable, assist your patients with the management of their chronic medical conditions.
    • Discuss chronic care management services (CCM) with your patients.
    • Provide resources to your patients for chronic care management.

Chronic Care Management services (CCM) can assist older Americans living with chronic medical conditions. CCM services are a Part B benefit offered to patients with two or more chronic medical conditions that meet patient eligibility requirements. CCM services allow the health care provider to be paid separately while providing care to these beneficiaries.

A chronic medical condition can be defined as:

  • Medical condition that lasts 12 months or longer
  • Requires ongoing treatment by a physician or other similar health care provider
  • Places the affected individual at risk for death, recurring flare-ups, and/or decline in ability to function
  • Examples- arthritis, cancer, COPD, diabetes, ischemic heart disease

Chronic Care Management services are proactive approaches to care for the patient with multiple chronic medical conditions. CCM services allow the health care provider and the patient/caregivers to work together in the management of the patient's chronic medical conditions.

To learn more about Medicare-covered services

For more information on Older Americans Month

For more information on Preventive Services

For more information on Chronic Care Management Services

References

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