ICCC at the Federal Level

Chronic Care Delivery Network

The ICCC has been a leader in the proposal of the Telehealth and HIT Enabled Chronic Care Delivery Network (CCDN), which was submitted to the Senate Finance Committee to be included in federal health care reform proposals. The primary objective of the proposed Network is to reduce unnecessary and avoidable hospitalization and ER visits and related costs for high-cost Medicare beneficiaries with certain chronic conditions. The Telehealth and HIT Enabled Chronic Care Delivery Network model is composed of four key modular elements:

  1. Chronic disease registry populated by Medicare claims data.
  2. Care Coordination staffing infrastructure, training, and performance management.
  3. Home telehealth technology for monitoring large populations efficiently.
  4. Care oversight by the beneficiary's treating physician.

The four component operational model allows each of the elements to be configured at a regional or potentially local level. In other words, beneficiaries will be able to receive care through local previously established provider relationships. These providers may elect to use existing care coordinator resources (home health or office staff, for example), but will be required to undergo training and performance monitoring under a centralized network management structure. Additionally, disease registry and telehealth technologies will need to meet a prescribed standard, including HIPAA and interoperability compliance, and qualify as meeting HHS requirements for "Meaningful Use". Finally, and importantly, a central management structure will be in place to coordinate all contracting, training, performance monitoring and quality improvement functions of the Network.