LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) announced today that it will host a national press conference on November 19th at 9:30 a.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, to launch its Case Management Model Act of 2009.
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Speakers will include representatives from the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance President and CEO Tarcey Moorhead, as well as CMSA's 2009-2010 President, Margaret (Peggy) Leonard, MS, RN-BC, FNP; Carol A. Gleason, MM, RN, CRRN, CCM, LRC, BCPC, Chairman of CMSA's Public Policy Committee who helped draft the Act; and the Executive Director of CMSA, Cheri Lattimer, RN, BSN.
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The press conference will focus on the value of the Model Act to health care reform in setting forth important standards for case management services with key provisions. These provisions cover elements including:
CMSA, along with the aforementioned federal agencies, hopes to drive home the importance of the timeliness and relevance of the Model Act and to stress that provisions of the Act could be adopted through either legislative or regulatory bodies.
"It's important that we get the word to out to legislators, the press, and the public that case management offers a unique and effective way to mobilize resources to promote quality-based and cost-effective outcomes for a wide range of populations with different health care needs," said CMSA President Margaret Leonard.
"CMSA is well positioned to offer its support to Congress, the White House, and other public policymakers as they explore different health care reform proposals," Leonard continued. "Case management and care coordination are vital services to all citizens -- especially to our veterans once they return home and are to be sponsored as part of the federal health care reform initiative. Without federal support, we will not be able to harness the full power of case management strategies and interventions."
Cheri Lattimer, CMSA Executive Director, said, "Part of the vision of CMSA is to lead the way toward the day when every American will recognize what a case/care manager does and will know how to access case and care management services. Case management interventions are used throughout the health care system today as a very effective solution towards the transitions of care, coordination of resources, reduction of costs, and improvement of clinical outcomes. The CMSA Model Act demonstrates the importance of case managers becoming a fundamental element of health care reform. With its launch, the day of realization of CMSA's vision about case management can't be far behind!"
Discussions with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health & Human Services, as well as other national regulatory bodies indicate that case management is a critical component to health care reform and the CM Model Act is needed to ensure quality of care for all patients. CMSA's new Model Act, which was approved by unanimous consent by CMSA's Board of Directors in October, can be downloaded at http://www.cmsa.org/HealthReform or requested by emailing [email protected].
-- Staff Qualifications -- Case Management Functions -- Authorized Scope of Services -- Payment of Services -- Training Requirements -- Quality Management Programs -- Antifraud & Consumer Protections
SOURCE Case Management Society of America
