CCMC

The differences between Certified Case Managers and Case Managers
CCMC believes that certification is valuable to case managers and knows from the growing demand for certified case managers that employers acknowledge this value as well. Our goal is to ensure that those who achieve certification possess the education, skills, and experience needed to deliver appropriate services to all they serve. Following are two key areas where CCMC and CMSA differ in standard setting:

Independent Practice
Certified Case Managers, according to CCMC, must hold a current, active, and unrestricted licensure or certification in a health or human services discipline that allows the professional to conduct an assessment independently, as permitted within the scope of practice of the discipline and must satisfy the necessary employment experience (12-24 months of acceptable case management employment experience as defined by CCMC).

Case Managers, according to the new standards released by the CMSA, must possess a Baccalaureate or graduate degree in a health or human services field (nursing and social work included) that promotes the physical, psychosocial, and/or vocational well-being of the persons being served with no requirement for licensure.

Commitment & Accountability
Case managers who have earned the Certified Case Manager (CCM®) credential have the expertise, knowledge, and professional experience to provide the right services to patients across the continuum of care, including those with serious or complex medical conditions, and/or catastrophic injuries and illnesses. The CCM® credential means that case managers are committed to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards. To maintain certification, Certified Case Managers must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct for Case Managers, which is enforced by the CCMC.

According to the CMSA Standards of Practice, “The case manager should adhere to applicable local, state, and federal laws, as well as employer policies, governing all aspects of case management practice, including client privacy and confidentiality rights. It is the responsibility of the case manager to work within the scope of his/her licensure”. If there is no licensure—what laws apply and how are recipients of services protected?

In today’s health care environment, patients/clients need an advocate on their side. A board-certified case manager is the right professional to act in an individual’s best interest in a complex and fragmented health care system to provide optimum value and desirable outcomes for all involved.