Early Use and Impact of Medicare Caregiver Training Services

Family caregivers are a foundational, yet under-recognized, part of the US health care system. As the older population grows, the need to recognize them as part of the health care team and provide them with support increases. Caregiver Training Services under Medicare represent a new avenue for supporting family caregivers.  

CTS are structured, condition-specific training interventions furnished by health care providers to train family caregivers in the skills and knowledge they need to safely and effectively care for someone with a medical condition. In 2024, CMS introduced CTS billing codes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, establishing a formal reimbursement pathway for providers who deliver CTS as part of care for Medicare beneficiaries. Based on Medicare claims analyses, a roundtable event, one-on-one stakeholder interviews, and a literature review, this report examines the early adoption of CTS codes in Medicare and explores the policy, operational and cultural shifts necessary to increase their adoption and maximize their effectiveness. Read the full report.

Key Takeaways 

• CTS have the potential to fill a long-standing gap in caregiver support. However, because the codes are so new, utilization is limited—typical of newly introduced codes. Many stakeholders are still becoming familiar with codes and how to use them.  
• There are five key enablers for CTS code adoption across health care payers, providers, and other stakeholders: clear guidance and communication, open access, aligned incentives, integrated infrastructure, and provider capacity.  
• CTS codes can serve as a bridge between family caregivers and the broader care continuum by reinforcing caregiver integration, expanding the breadth of services delivered, and adapting to longitudinal needs, as well as providing a way for providers to be reimbursed for training their Medicare patients’ family caregivers.   
• The introduction of CTS marks significant progress in recognizing and supporting family caregivers. However, its success depends on cross-stakeholder collaboration, public-private partnership, and shared learning.