Hospitals Are Adding “Care Coordination” Fees

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We typically expect a medical bill only after we physically see a doctor. You walk into the office, get a checkup, and pay your copay. In 2026, that transaction model has fundamentally changed. Hospitals and primary care practices are aggressively adopting “Care Coordination” billing codes. These allow them to charge you for the time they spend managing your health when you are not in the room.

This shift turns your doctor’s office into a subscription service without you explicitly realizing it. You might receive a bill for $40 or $80 for a month where you never stepped foot in the clinic. These charges are legal under new Medicare Physician Fee Schedule updates. They are designed to reward doctors for “longitudinal care.” However, for seniors on fixed incomes, they look exactly like a hidden tax on being sick. Here are the specific ways these coordination fees are appearing on your statement this year.

The Monthly Chronic Care Management Charge

The most common new fee is for Chronic Care Management (CCM). If you have two or more chronic conditions like arthritis or diabetes, you are eligible. Practices can bill Medicare roughly $60 to $80 per month for managing your case. This fee covers things like refilling prescriptions or reviewing your chart.

The problem is that you pay a portion of this. Since it is a Part B service, you owe the 20% coinsurance. This adds roughly $12 to $16 to your monthly expenses. You might see this charge recur every month indefinitely. Many seniors do not realize they can opt out of this program.

The “Longitudinal” Visit Add-On

You might notice a strange code on your bill called G2211. This is a specific “add-on” code that Medicare fully implemented recently. It allows doctors to charge extra for visits that are part of an ongoing relationship. It is meant to pay them for the complexity of knowing your history.

This code adds roughly $16 to the allowed amount of your office visit. You pay your share of that increase. It effectively penalizes you for staying loyal to one primary care doctor. You pay more for a checkup than you would at an urgent care.

The Patient Portal Message Fee

Emailing your doctor used to be a free convenience. In 2026, major health systems are billing these messages as “Digital E/M” services. If your message requires “medical decision making,” they can bill your insurance. This includes asking for a new prescription or describing a new symptom.

These charges can range from $30 to $50 depending on the complexity. If you have a high deductible, you pay the full amount. A quick question about a side effect now carries a financial risk. You must check if your hospital has a “billing for messages” policy.

The “Advanced” Primary Care Bundle

For 2026, Medicare introduced “Advanced Primary Care Management” (APCM) codes. These are bundled payments that cover comprehensive care coordination. Unlike older codes, these are easier for doctors to bill. They do not always require strict time-tracking of 20 minutes per month.

This creates a smoother revenue stream for the practice. It creates a confusing line item for you. You may see a generic charge for “Care Management Services.” It is difficult to dispute because the definition of the service is broad. It essentially covers the “availability” of your care team.

The Silent Opt-In Problem

Federal rules generally require your consent to bill these monthly fees. However, that consent is often buried in the annual paperwork. You might have signed a “General Consent to Treat” form in January. That form likely included a clause agreeing to care coordination services.

You probably did not realize you were signing up for a monthly fee. Practices rarely explain the coinsurance impact verbally. They simply activate the code and start billing. You only discover the enrollment when the first bill arrives.

Request a Disenrollment

You have the right to stop these charges. Call your doctor’s billing office immediately. Ask specifically: “Am I enrolled in Chronic Care Management or APCM?” If the answer is yes, state clearly that you wish to “disenroll immediately.”

They must stop billing the monthly fee once you revoke consent. Unless you truly use the nurse line frequently, the out-of-pocket cost is rarely worth it. In 2026, you must protect your monthly budget from these automatic medical subscriptions.

Did you find a $15 charge for “Care Management” on your Medicare summary? Leave a comment below—tell us if you knew you were signed up!