CCM and APCM Enrollment Texts: Invite Patients, Then Get Consent Right

Chronic Care Management (CCM) is for patients with two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months, or until death, that put them at significant risk. Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM, HCPCS G0556 to G0558) is a monthly bundle billed by the practitioner who takes responsibility for the patient's primary care. Both need the patient's consent, verbal or written, documented in the medical record before you bill. The patient must be told the service is available, that cost sharing may apply, that only one practitioner can bill it each month, and that they can stop at any time. A text invite starts that conversation. It is not the consent. Use broadcasts to reach eligible patients, then have staff explain the required items and record the answer.

For CCM, CMS says to get written or verbal consent before you bill. You inform the patient, and document in the medical record: that CCM is available, their possible cost sharing, that only one practitioner can provide and bill CCM in a calendar month, their right to stop at any time (effective at the end of the month), and that you explained this and whether they accepted or declined. Consent is needed once, unless the patient switches practitioners.

APCM consent follows the same pattern, with more to explain. The patient hears that APCM is available, that Medicare cost sharing usually applies, and that you intend to be responsible for all their primary care. They hear that only one practitioner can be paid for APCM each month, that this doesn't limit care from other practitioners, that APCM is ongoing and monthly, and that they can stop at any time. CMS says written consent is not necessary. A patient moving from CCM to APCM needs a new consent.

Most practices raise CCM at visits and through phone campaigns. Visits only reach patients who come in. Phone lists stall because patients don't answer unknown numbers. A text first means the call that follows is expected, and patients can reply with a time that suits them.

Export a list of eligible patients from your EHR as a CSV, with MRN, phone, first name and columns such as provider_last_name. In BloomText, open Broadcast in the sidebar and work through Details, Recipients and Message. Choose Secure text with link (can contain PHI) for invites that name the program, or Insecure text (can't contain PHI) for a generic first touch. See create a broadcast and add recipients.

Upload up to 20,000 rows and map the columns. BloomText matches rows by MRN, then phone, then email, and doesn't change existing records. Write the message with variables and fallbacks, such as {{first_name | there}} (personalize messages). Schedule it for a weekday morning in the patient's time zone and set the time between messages so replies arrive at a pace your care managers can handle. You can pause and resume (send and track).

Replies come back as private one-to-one conversations in your team inbox, where a care manager can pick up each one and book the consent call. Numbers on your org's opt-out list aren't texted. In an Insecure broadcast they show as Failed with the reason. BloomText does not record consent in your EHR. Staff document it in the medical record as CMS requires.

Broadcasts need the Patient SMS Add-on, membership in a team with an assigned phone number, and a verified account. BloomText verifies new accounts before their first broadcast. Broadcast runs in the BloomText web and desktop apps. The BAA is included on every plan, including the free plan.