VANGUARD MEDICAL GROUP LAUNCHES MEDICARE CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Vanguard Medical Group is now offering Chronic Care Management Services for Medicare patients of all ages with multiple chronic conditions. Vanguard’s expansion into this service line reinforces the group’s ability to help patients of all ages navigate and maximize the utilization of available health services. CCM is designed to reduce hospitalization and emergency room visits, and reduce costs to patients and Medicare.

“Vanguard Medical Group’s patient-centered primary care philosophy is to continue to evolve to serve patients by offering the finest medical services that meet individuals’ needs while controlling the cost of health care services,” said Thomas McCarrick, M.D., chief medical officer of Vanguard Medical Group. “The new CCM program launched in January 2015 by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients with higher acuity and risk to benefit from extended care management services at a reduced cost to both the patient and Medicare.”

The U.S. chronic illness burden is increasing, and prevention and management of chronic disease are best performed by multidisciplinary teams in primary care and public health. Based on statistics collected by Health Affairs, a leading journal of health policy, 10 years ago, 63 million people had multiple chronic illnesses, and that number is estimated to reach 81 million in 2020.[1] The challenge is controlling and managing this crisis while keeping the cost of health care in check. Medicare’s CCM services program is one of the solutions.

According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CCM offers patients with two or more chronic medical conditions:

· Access to care management services 24/7.

· Continuity of care, including a plan of care that is based on the patient’s choice, which is available electronically to all of the patient’s health care providers.

· Management of care between multiple health care providers.

· Coordination with home- and community-based clinical service providers.

· Family/caregiver input.

Patients with chronic conditions, disabilities or significant impairments, including osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, COPD, congestive heart failure, active cancer and MS, are candidates for the program. The CCM program is designed to reduce hospitalization and emergency room visits and reduce costs to patients and Medicare.

“Most individuals with multiple chronic illnesses require medical attention from more than one medical professional, and care management is critical so that everyone involved in the patient’s well-being understands the care being provided, from the patient, his/her family and caregivers to all health care providers. Medicare’s CCM services ensure that health care is suitable, current and supervised,” added Janet Duni, RN, MPA, director of care coordination for Vanguard.

About Vanguard Medical Group

Vanguard Medical Group P.C. is a regional primary care practice now serving more than 48,000 active patients in five locations:

• 570 South Ave., Building G, Unit A, Cranford, NJ 07016, Phone: 908-272-7990
• 61 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 301, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035, Phone: 973-696-6687
• 170 Changebridge Road, Suite C-3, Montville, NJ 07045, Phone: 973-575-5540
• 535 High Mountain Road, Suite 111, North Haledon, NJ 07508, Phone: 973-636-9000
• 271 Grove Ave., Suite A, Verona, NJ 07044, Phone: 973-239-2600

The motivation to develop a larger, regional primary care practice was the recognition that the health care system was rapidly changing in ways that did not support small or solo independent physician practices. The founding physicians in Vanguard believe that a strong culture of locally led practices, guided by a shared vision and governed by shared values, must be at the core of this new organization.

Many of the founding physicians have practiced for more than 20 years in their respective communities and are leaders in their local health care delivery systems. Vanguard physicians have been at the forefront of primary care in New Jersey, and our staff includes past presidents of the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, residency directors, family practice department chairmen at our hospitals and faculty at our New Jersey medical schools.

Hospital affiliations include Chilton Memorial Hospital, Jersey City Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, Mountainside/UHMC Hospital, Overlook Medical Center, Saint Clare’s Hospital, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Paterson and St. Joseph’s Wayne. Vanguard Medical Group accepts most major insurance plans. For more information, visit the company’s website at vanguardmedgroup.com.

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[1] http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/1/64.full