Medical Cost Projection is the process of reviewing records to determine the future cost of medical services. It is based on medical record review usually covering a portion of the care: in most cases, the last two years. The Medical Cost Projection report is a condensed, simplified, abstract document that provides an estimate of items and services that an injured or disabled person might require. This report can be used in mediation, settlement negotiation and also in setting aside funds. Below is the definition of Medical Cost Projection as adopted by the ICHCC® CMCPS® Steering Committee, September 2021:
Medical Cost Projection Definition:
Medical Cost Projection is the process of reviewing records to determine the future cost of medical services. It is based on medical record review usually covering a portion of the care: in most cases, the last two years. The Medical Cost Projection report is a condensed, simplified, abstract document that provides an estimate of items and services that an injured or disabled person will, in all probability, require. This report can be used in mediation, settlement negotiations, and also in setting aside funds. The Medical Cost Projection is often used in the litigation process however, the definitive product for the purpose of litigation and testimony is the Life Care Plan.
A Medical Cost Projection is based on medical record review and medical research usually covering a portion of the care while a life care plan is based on an in-person interview with the injured/ill individual, provider communications, review of the medical records and extensive medical research. The Medical Cost Projection takes a proactive stance while the life care plan tends to be more active and reactive. The life care plan includes one to one, in person contact with the injured or disabled person while the Medical Cost Projection does not. The life care plan remains the most comprehensive, in-depth, advanced, and extensively researched document. The life care plan is usually at the end of active treatment, typically after the injured or disabled person has stabilized, while the Medical Cost Projection can be completed at the beginning or during treatment.
A Medical Cost Projection can turn into a Life Care Plan but a Life Care Plan cannot turn into a Medical Cost Projection. A Life Care Plan is a comprehensive, in-depth, specialized, researched, and involved legal document and also includes personal interaction with the injured party as well as with the medical team involved with the care and treatment of the client. A Certified Life Care Planner™ must be a health care professional who meets stringent educational and professional qualifications and completes a 120-hour approved training program along with a sample life care plan, while a Certified Medical Cost Projection Specialist™ can be a health care professional or a person involved in the litigation or insurance fields who completes a 45 hour approved training program as well as a sample medical cost projection. Many Certified Life Care Planners also provide Medical Cost Projections. A Medical Cost Projection can be used as a baseline on which to build a life care plan. The Medical Cost Projection takes a proactive stance while the Life Care Plan tends to be more active and reactive. There is a strong difference between a life care plan and a medical cost projection, as there is a difference between a Certified Life Care Planner™ (CLCP®), a Canadian Certified Life Care Planner™ (CCLCP™) and the Certified Medical Cost Projection Specialist (CMCPS). There is a need for both the life care plan and the medical cost projection within the field.
The educational and work experience requirements are listed below and encompass many professions that the Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) and Canadian Certified Life Care Planner (CCLCP) does not. While the Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) and Canadian Certified Life Care Planner (CCLCP) remain the most prestigious and more difficult to attain of the credentials, there is a definite need for the Certified Medical Cost Projection Specialist™ (CMCPS®) in the field.
Law offices, insurance companies, and workman compensation carriers, to name a few are referral sources for those who hold the CLCP®, CCLCP™ as well as the CMCPS®.
CLCP®s and CCLCP™s in good standing will be eligible to audit out of Modules 1 through 6 of the CMCPS® course and only take Module 7 in order to qualify to sit for the CMCPS® examination. They would be provided a case scenario from which they would write a sample medical cost projection report, which would be reviewed by the ICHCC®. The CLCP™ or CCLCP™ would then be eligible to sit for the CMCPS® examination. They may also use the Module 7 and the writing of the sample medical cost projection report as ethics CEUs to be used at the renewal of their CLCP™ and CCLCP™ credentials. They would be awarded a total of 10 CEUs with 8 of those 10 CEUs in ethics for taking Module 7 and writing the sample medical cost projection report.
Qualifications
Education: All candidates must have at the minimum an Associate's Degree with the exception of Diploma Registered Nurses, Licensed Insurance Adjusters and Licensed Insurance Agents as well as Paralegals with a Paralegal Certificate.
Professional Experience: A minimum of 12 months of acceptable full-time employment within the past three years in any of the following industry disciplines is required. Acceptable employment means that the candidate is working within a health care profession, the Workers' Compensation or Liability Insurance industry, or in a legal setting as an attorney or a paralegal, as well as in a Human Resourse setting. Below are some of the approved professions:
- Certified Life Care Planners™ (CLCP®) and Canadian Certified Life Care Planners™ (CCLCP™)
- Health Care Professionals including Case Managers, Disability Management Professionals, Rehabilitation Specialists, Nurses, Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physicians and Physicians' Assistants, Chiropractors, Speech Therapists, Social Workers and Special Education Teachers and Specialists.
- Insurance Claims Adjusters (In lieu of an Associate's Degree, they may have an adjuster's license.)
- Attorneys
- Paralegals: (In lieu of an Associate's Degree, they have a Paralegal Certificate.)
- Human Resource Professionals
- Government Employees: Government Employees who meet the education and professional experiences qualification and are employed at/through the Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security Administration and their occupations require direct service to enrollees/beneficiaries would be eligible.
- CLCP®s and CCLCP™s in good standing will be eligible to audit out of Modules 1 through 6 of the CMCPS® course and only take Module 7 in order to qualify to sit for the CMCPS® examination. They would be provided a case scenario from which they would write a sample medical cost projection report, which would be reviewed by the ICHCC®. The CLCP® or CCLCP™ would then be eligible to sit for the CMCPS® examination. They may also use the Module 7 and the writing of the sample medical cost projection report as ethics CEUs to be used at the renewal of their CLCP® and CCLCP™ credentials. They would be awarded a total of 10 CEUs with 8 of those 10 CEUs in ethics for taking Module 7 and writing the sample medical cost projection report.
The ICHCC® Administration may, upon review of supporting documentation, approve professional experience and education not specifically identified under qualifications. Final acceptance and approval of all certification applications will be the decision of the ICHCC® Administration and will not be eligible for appeal.
Recertification
The Certified Medical Cost Projection Specialist™ (CMCPS®) professional must have his or her CMCPS® credential renewed every 3 years. To maintain the use of the CMCPS® professional designation, the CMCPS® certificant is required to provide proof of 15 CEUS acquired over the certification period. Within the 15 required CEUs, at least 5 must be of ethical practice subject matter. The remaining CEUs can be of course topics related to MCPs or the certificant's area of expertise. Additional information on the renewal process can be found in the ICHCC® Practice Standards and Guidelines on pages 18 through 23. A copy of the guidelines can be located under "Resources" in the top horizontal menu bar.
Approved Renewal CEU Hours for all ICHCC® Certifications can be found by choosing "HOME" in the top menu bar of the ICHCC® website and then choosing "News and Events", which lists approved CEU hours, as well as the "Google Calendar" that posts all approved CEU hours. In addition, AAACEUS offers CLCP® Renewal Bundle Packages and MSCC™ Renewal Bundle Packages as well as a variety of ICHCC® approved CEU hours. The ICHCC® anticipates that AAACEUs will also offer a Renewal Bundle Package for the CMCPS® certification.
Your CMCPS® renewal application can be emailed to the ICHCC® (
Options for Renewal
- Option One: Documentation of 15 CEUs, with 5 of the 15 hours in ethics.
- Option Two: Re-examination (If the certificant's credential has already expired, re-examination is not an option.)
- Option Three: Request a six-month extension.
Option One
Submit verification of 15 CEUs acquired during the certification period. If a course was preapproved, the CMCPS® professional only needs to provide the attendance verification form. The fee is $300. If the CMCPS® professional attended a program that was not approved for CMCPS® CEUs, the required documentation must be submitted and is subject to review. This includes the attendance verification and course agenda. The renewal fee increases to $350 for any number of non-preapproved CEUs submitted with the renewal application.
Option Two
Re-examination. The fee is $795 and covers both the examination fee and certification renewal. If the CMCPS® credential has already expired, please note this option is not available.
Extensions
If the CMCPS® certificant does not desire to retest but also lacks the necessary 15 CEUs, then the candidate can apply for an extension. This is available to CMCPS® certificants who have completed and submitted 5 of the 15 CEUs required for maintenance. A six (6) month extension may be granted. The fee is $200.
CMCPS® Commissioners
Chairperson:
- Reva Payne, CMCPS, CCM, CDMS, CLCP, MSCC, QRC
