Collaborative Care Model Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What will be used for the tracking system, and is it affordable?  

    CCNC will provide free access to the AIMS registry for three years and is working to secure a discount after that. However, the hope is that the CoCM will be financially sustainable by that time and can support paying for the registry. The psychiatric consultant should not have to pay for the registry; it should be the PCP office.  

Q: As a primary care physician, who should you contact if you are interested in using the AIMS Caseload Tracker? 

    The first step is to connect with an AHEC for practice support coaching. They can be reached at [email protected]. Once the practice is working with an AHEC and has determined readiness for CoCM, they will then make the referral to CCNC for the AIMS Caseload Tracker. 

Q: What changes are being made to the AIMS Caseload Tracker? 

    Adult and pediatric scales will be grouped together on the caseload list. Over time, the age will change in the caseload list view based on the date of birth.  

Q: Can scales be exported to be shared?  

    BHCMs can copy and paste information from ACT to an EMR or other location. While viewing any contact, the “Export as Text” button will appear at the top of the page. Click this button to strip all formatting from the contact and display the information as unformatted text. The unformatted text can be easily copied and pasted to another location.

Q: Which insurances outside of Medicaid can be billed using CoCM?  

    Although it is still changing, almost all major insurance companies in North Carolina will now pay for the codes. You can view APA’s list of who will pay for codes here: https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Practice/Professional-Topics/Integrated-Care/Coverage-Psychiatric-CoCM-Codes-Payers.pdf.  

Q: How is it billed if a patient needs to see a psychiatrist face-to-face who does not carry their insurance?  

    In situations where the patient sees the psychiatrist face-to-face, it should be billed like a typical outpatient psychiatry visit under the psychiatrist’s name. The visit could be cost-prohibitive if the psychiatrist does not accept the patient’s insurance. Before scheduling, there should be a discussion with the CoCM team, as the patient may decline said visit. It is then up to the CoCM team to determine whether they can continue safely caring for the patient if they cannot recommend an in-person evaluation.  

Q: Will my liability insurance cover CoCM, and how would that affect the cost of liability?