CCM Case Study: How Chronic Care Management Reduces ER Visits and Improves Outcomes

Story by Connor Danielowski / May 17, 2025

Emergency room visits are often costly, stressful for patients, and a sign that preventive care may be falling short. But for practices offering Chronic Care Management (CCM), the data tells a different story: fewer ER visits, better outcomes, and increased revenue.

In this CCM case study, we’ll show how partnering with Chronic Care Staffing helped a practice reduce ER visits by over 60%, improve patient engagement, and unlock Medicare reimbursements — all without hiring additional staff.

What Is Chronic Care Management (CCM)?

Chronic Care Management is a Medicare-backed program designed to support patients with two or more chronic conditions. The program enables practices to provide monthly, non-face-to-face care coordination through phone calls, medication reviews, appointment scheduling, and lifestyle coaching.

Medicare reimburses your practice for this work through CPT codes like 99490 and 99439!

Case Study: The Problem

A primary care clinic in the Southeast U.S. was seeing high rates of emergency room visits among patients with chronic conditions such as:

• Congestive heart failure
  
• Type 2 diabetes
  
• COPD
  
• Hypertension
  

The practice’s in-house staff was overwhelmed managing appointments, refills, and admin tasks — making it nearly impossible to conduct proactive monthly check-ins.

The Solution: Outsourcing CCM with Chronic Care Staffing

The clinic partnered with Chronic Care Staffing to implement a full-service CCM program:

• Dedicated remote care coordinators assigned to eligible patients
• Monthly phone calls to check symptoms, meds, and barriers to care
• EMR-integrated documentation for seamless billing and compliance
• Real-time alerts for patients at risk of readmission

No new software. No additional in-house hires. Just better care — delivered consistently.

Results After 6 Months

60% Decrease in ER Visits
High-risk patients enrolled in CCM were contacted monthly, leading to earlier interventions and fewer unnecessary ER trips.

Improved Patient Satisfaction
Patients reported feeling more supported between visits and better equipped to manage their conditions at home.

Lower Readmission Rates
By monitoring symptoms and medication adherence, providers caught issues before they escalated into ER visits or hospital stays.

Why CCM Works to Reduce ER Visits

Here’s why Chronic Care Management is such a powerful tool:

• Early Detection: Regular check-ins help spot red flags before they become emergencies
  
• Medication Adherence: Patients are reminded to take medications as prescribed
  
• Care Plan Compliance: Coordinators reinforce lifestyle and treatment plans
  
• Stronger Relationships: Patients feel cared for, leading to higher trust and transparency
  

How to Start Your Own CCM Program

Getting started is easier than you think — especially with a partner like Chronic Care Staffing. Our team:

• Charts in real-time, directly inside your EMR
  
• Handles all Medicare documentation
  
• Scales with your patient volume
  
• Helps you expand your value-based care
  

And most importantly — we help you improve outcomes while earning new recurring revenue.

Final Takeaway

Reducing ER visits doesn’t require burning out your clinical staff or installing new software. With Chronic Care Management, you can deliver high-touch preventive care that keeps patients healthier — and keeps your bottom line stronger.

Want to see what a CCM program can do for your practice?

Connor Danielowski

Chief Operating Officer, Chronic Care Staffing

Connor Danielowski is the Chief Operating Officer at Chronic Care Staffing, where he leads operations, strategy, and growth initiatives focused on delivering high-impact virtual care solutions. He brings a unique blend of clinical service knowledge and financial expertise to help healthcare organizations implement and scale Chronic Care Management (CCM), Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), and other virtual care management services.

Connor began his career in investment banking and private equity, where he focused on investing in healthcare businesses and working closely with management teams to drive revenue growth and profitability. This experience shaped his hands-on, results-oriented approach to healthcare operations today.

He holds a degree in Accounting from Washington & Lee University and brings both analytical rigor and a patient-first mindset to his role. In addition to his work at Chronic Care Staffing, Connor serves on the development board for the MUSC College of Nursing. He lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and son.

Categories: Chronic Care Management News