February 19, 2015

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US Senate passes Case Management Week Resolution

October 13-19, 2013
Declared National Case Management Week

Little Rock, AR, Monday, September 30, 2013 – On Friday, the United States Senate passed S. Res. 214, a resolution declaring the week of October 13-19, 2013, as "National Case Management Week," to recognize the value of case management in improving healthcare outcomes for patients.

The resolution, which passed unanimously, was introduced by Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) in early August through a collaborative effort between the American Case Management Association and the Case Management Society of America to honor case management professionals for their contributions to health care.

"All Americans deserve access to quality and affordable health care. Case managers play a critical role in providing patients the information they need to make responsible decisions about their health care. We can be proud of their efforts to improve the delivery of services and care to all patients,” said Senator Boozman.

CMSA President, Nancy Skinner, RN-BC, CCM, remarked, “Case management and care coordination are a vital aspect of healthcare delivery in America. Yet, too few consumers understand the important role case managers play. With this action, the United States Senate brings richly deserved recognition to the practice and may assist us in moving from the shadows of healthcare delivery to the full understanding of the advocacy and care coordination roles that case managers offer.”

S.Res.214 states that the Senate "recognizes the value of case management in providing successful and cost-effective healthcare; and encourages the people of the United States to observe National Case Management Week and learn about the field of case management.”  The Resolution further states that “ case managers are advocates who help patients understand their current health status and ways to improve their health, and in this way serve as catalysts who guide patients and provide cohesion with other professionals in the healthcare delivery team” and that “case managers are an important link to quality healthcare.”

ACMA President, Sharon Mass, Ph.D., LCSW, ACM, said, “As healthcare continues its transformation, case management has become even more essential to the care process. National Case Management Week is an opportunity to recognize the dedication, compassion, and outcomes achieved by case managers. This Senate resolution will provide exposure to the critical practice of case management, and help better inform the public on the role of case managers in representing and advocating for patients, families and their organization.”

Senator Pryor also remarked, “Case managers are vital to our healthcare system.  I was proud to join Senator Boozman to introduce this resolution and give these individuals the recognition they deserve.  I am pleased that the Senate has agreed to recognize Case Management Week.”

CMSA and ACMA thank Senators Pryor and Boozman for their sponsorship and support of this resolution, and look forward to celebrating National Case Management Week this October with the public.