Collaborative care training for care managers
Short answer: Collaborative care training prepares care managers for the clinical, tracking and billing parts of the job. It covers screening with tools like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, brief interventions, registry use, time tracking for billing, working with the psychiatric consultant and a staged plan from shadowing to an independent caseload.
A behavioral health care manager is the person who keeps Collaborative Care running. Training should prepare them for the clinical, tracking and billing parts of the job.
What skills does a care manager need?
- Screening and symptom measurement with tools like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7
- Brief, evidence-based interventions such as behavioral activation and problem solving
- Motivational interviewing
- Safety assessment and suicide risk response
- Care coordination with the primary care team and community resources
How should care managers use the registry?
- Enroll each patient and record baseline scores.
- Log every contact and the time spent.
- Flag patients who are not improving.
- Prepare the weekly list for the psychiatric consultant.
What should care managers know about time tracking and billing?
Billing codes depend on care manager minutes in the month, so training should cover what time counts, how to record it and how to avoid double counting. Teach the team the difference between the initial and subsequent month codes and the add-on. Confirm code rules with your payers before you set documentation standards.
How do care managers work with the psychiatric consultant?
- Present each patient in two minutes: who, what changed and the question.
- Record recommendations clearly.
- Pass treatment suggestions to the primary care provider.
What should care managers tell patients?
- Explain what Collaborative Care is and what to expect.
- Confirm consent, including possible cost sharing.
- Set a schedule for outreach and keep it.
Care managers who reach patients by phone or video across state lines should also know the basics in our telehealth law guide for multi-state clinicians.
What does a four-week training plan look like?
- Week 1: model overview and registry practice
- Week 2: shadow an experienced care manager
- Week 3: supervised calls and documentation review
- Week 4: independent caseload with weekly check-ins
- Quarterly: refreshers and chart reviews
How do you check competency?
- Observed patient call with a checklist
- Chart audit for time and documentation
- Case presentation to the consultant
Frequently asked questions
Who can be a care manager?
Payers and models define it, often a licensed clinician or someone with formal training under supervision. Check your payer's rules.
Can training count for CE?
It can when delivered through an approved CE provider.
Related guides
- Ketamine and Spravato clinic staff training
- Telehealth law for multi-state clinicians
- More guides from Hourglass CE
Sources and updates
Common Collaborative Care training topics for care managers are summarized here. Confirm billing time rules and role definitions with your payers and your medical leadership. Last checked October 2026.
How Hourglass CE helps
Hourglass CE offers specialty training for behavioral health teams, including collaborative care. See the course list.
CE approvals are pending. Courses list approvals only once granted.
Specialty courses, team assignment and completion tracking for behavioral health groups.
See the course list