Sustaining the collaborative care model (CoCM): Billing newly available CoCM CPT codes in an Academic Primary Care System

Abstract

Novel Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes specific to the collaborative care model (CoCM) offer advantages over traditional billing options, but their uptake may require considerable billing and clinical workflow adjustments. This column presents a case study addressing the challenges of using these codes within the University of Washington Neighborhood Clinics (UWNC), an academically affiliated primary care clinic system in western Washington State. The UWNC experience thus far demonstrates that CoCM CPT codes can successfully be used in a large academic primary care system to help move this evidence-based service model toward financial sustainability.