Objectives: On January 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced new Current Procedural Terminology codes for caregiver training services (CTS), enabling clinicians to provide caregiver training without the patient present. The goal of this qualitative inquiry was to explore both caregivers’ and rehabilitation therapists’ perspectives on the content, value, impact, facilitators, barriers, and solutions for implementing CTS in our health system.
Design: Qualitative inquiry using semistructured interviews.
Setting: A large, integrated health system located in the Upper Midwest.
Participants: The target population included caregivers of patients (N=17) with neurologic conditions and rehabilitation therapists (N=13) who primarily treat these patients.
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures: Accounts of personal experience related to caregiver training and views on the new CTS billing codes.
Results: A total of 17 caregivers and 13 rehabilitation therapists completed interviews between July and September 2025. Caregivers viewed CTS positively and expressed interest in guidance on disease progression, safe caregiving techniques, and emotional support, with cost as the primary concern. Therapists recognized CTS’s value for caregivers of patients who are nonaccepting of their diagnosis, cognitively impaired, or unable to attend appointments, but identified implementation challenges, including patient selection criteria, teaching physical skills without the patient present, and electronic health record integration.
Conclusions: Both caregivers and rehabilitation therapists viewed CTS positively. Implementation challenges identified by therapists included patient selection criteria, determining appropriate patient absence, and electronic health record integration, highlighting the need for clear guidance to maximize CTS effectiveness in supporting family caregivers. Health care systems must address implementation barriers, ensure cost transparency, and provide clear guidance to maximize CTS effectiveness.
