As more families step into caregiving roles for loved ones with serious and complex conditions like cancer, a new report from the National Alliance for Caregiving’s Cancer Caregiving Collaborative explores how Medicare billing codes can help provide stronger support through direct training for family caregivers.
The brief, “Trends in Innovation: Implementing and Refining Caregiving Training Services in Medicare,” focuses on Caregiver Training Services (CTS) codes first introduced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule. These codes allow healthcare providers to receive reimbursement for time spent training family caregivers in essential skills like wound care, medication management, and feeding support.
Drawing on case studies from Northwell Health and RUSH University Medical Center, the report shares real-world examples of how health systems are implementing CTS codes. It also includes practical tools such as workflows and integration checklists, and recommendations for health systems and providers exploring caregiver training as part of care delivery.
The brief is available in full and in three standalone formats:
- Full Brief
- Part 1: Report Only
- Part 2: Background, Case Studies, and CTS Checklist & Workflow
- Part 3: CTS Implementation Checklist Only
Together, these insights show how healthcare systems can better prepare and recognize family caregivers as core members of the care team. As more care is delivered at home, training and supporting caregivers is an essential step toward improving health outcomes and quality of life for patients and their families.
