Earlier this month, FierceHealthPayer reported that a growing number of states are shifting nursing home patients to managed long-term care facilities in order to mitigate their health risks and oversee any chronic conditions. As a result, managed long-term care facilities are expecting an influx of not only newly insured patients but transferred patients, as well. It is because of this sudden shift that hiring for Care Coordinators and Managers is now on the rise.

Managed long-term care helps patients who need health and long-term care services stay in their homes and communities as long as possible. Care Manager and Care Coordinators help make this possible by providing one-on-one care to each individual patient and ensuring they have the resources they need, take their medication properly, and know what problematic health issues to look out for. This is an excellent opportunity for nursing professionals who are looking for the next step in their career, as there are plentiful opportunities for nurses in the market right now. After all, Nursing was named the “top job of 2014,” and Care Manager and Care Coordinator are two titles we predict to enjoy the most growth in the coming years.

These professionals are needed to provide long-term, step-by-step care to residents in order to help keep them healthy and reduce Medicare spending. Why? It’s been estimated that the cost of Medicare amounts to more than $17 million each year as a result of hospital readmissions, and much of this issue can be attributed to poor communication and improper post-discharge care—both of which can have long-lasting, serious effects on patients’ health. But with managed long-term care facilities, those with chronic issues or serious health problems can be guided through the process every step of the way by their Care Coordinator and/or manager, often preventing serious relapses that commonly result from a lack of post-discharge communication.

“All of an individual’s care will be coordinated by one plan under a Care Manager,” says Kelly Mattice, Vice President of The Execu|Search Group’s Health Services Division. “This has the potential to result in better care coordination and, therefore, keep expenses under the plan’s cap—the preset amount that must cover all the care a plan member requires. Care Managers and Coordinators are the key to keeping patients healthy and spending low, and many facilities are starting to realize this.”

The type of healthcare professional ideal for this opportunity is one who wishes to focus on chronic care and/or care management. Nurses currently working in Home Care, Long Term Care, and Case Management would all be assets to these organizations.