Case Management Organizations Speak with One Voice to Celebrate Case Managers

Case Management Organizations Speak with One Voice to Celebrate Case Managers

For the first time, CCMC, CMSA, and ACMA share National Case Management Week theme and direction

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ, July. 19, 2023 – Case managers proactively facilitate care coordination, navigating the complex health care system alongside individuals and their families and connecting millions of people to the clinical and community resources they need. As the nation celebrates National Case Management week Oct. 8-14, the three largest professional organizations serving the case manager community will speak with one voice in recognition of the critical role case managers play, aligning behind a common theme for the week: Keeping the Person at the Heart of Collaborative Care.

This year, the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC), the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and the American Case Management Association (ACMA), are collaborating and joining together to shine a spotlight on the important role case managers play on the health care team. Together, these esteemed organizations will leverage their collective impact to raise awareness about the importance of case management.

“We celebrate case managers as change agents, skilled professionals, and lifelong learners,” said MaryBeth Kurland, CAE, CEO of the Commission. “They bring enormous skill in communication and collaborating with others to drive the best possible outcome for the client.”

A recent study by J.D. Power underscores the importance of proactive patient engagement, a critical element of the value-based payment models that large commercial insurers are now using to incentivize providers to communicate with patients and deliver better-coordinated care.¹ The study found that among patients reporting the worst health status, only 17% were assigned a case manager to help guide care and communicate as a patient advocate with the rest of the health team.

“Individuals with complex health issues or with chronic disease often have several care providers and community resource needs. These are precisely the individuals who need case managers the most,” said Colleen Morley DNP RN CCM CMAC CMCN ACM-RN, president of the CMSA National Board of Directors. “We celebrate the passion that case managers bring to this role as advocates, ensuring that the individual’s voice is heard, and their needs are addressed in the delivery system.”

During National Case Management Week, each of the three organizations will offer professional development opportunities to build case managers’ skills and strengthen their resilience to serve with compassion.

“Case managers are key contributors to the health care system and transitions of care. During National Case Management Week we pause to recognize their value,” said L. Greg Cunningham, ACMA CEO. “While providing or coordinating care and resource needs, case managers collaborate with multiple professionals but maintain the individual’s personal preferences and desired health care goals at the heart of their work- true advocates for those they serve.”

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification
The Commission for Case Manager Certification is the first and largest nationally accredited case management certification organization, credentialing more than 50,000 professional case managers and disability management specialists. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM^® and CDMS^® credentials. Offering an extensive portfolio of certification and professional advancement activities, the Commission is the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practices of case management and disability management. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org and www.cdms.org, connect with the Commission on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

About the Case Management Society of America (CMSA)
Established in 1990, the Case Management Society of America is the leading non-profit association dedicated to the support and development of the profession of case management. CMSA serves more than 30,000 members, subscribers and participants, and 50 local and international chapters through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy and established standards to advance the profession. For more information, visit http://www.cmsa.org or follow CMSA on Twitter @CMSANational.

About the American Case Management Association
Founded in 1999, the American Case Management Association (ACMA) is a national, non-profit, professional membership association, which strives to provide resources, solutions, and support for Case Management and Transitions of Care professionals. ACMA is comprised of more than 8,000 members and 50,000 educational subscribers, including nurses, social workers, physicians and other professionals affiliated with case management. Through a variety of educational conferences and networking events at both the state and national level, ACMA provides its members with numerous opportunities to develop their skills, grow in their profession and learn from the experiences and practices of fellow members. For more information, visit acmaweb.org/ncmw.

1. Commercial Health Plan Member Satisfaction Declines in Key Areas, J.D. Power Finds. www.businesswire.com. Published May 31, 2023.