A credentialed life care planner who projects future medical and non-medical care needs and costs across the lifespan for litigation or settlement (International Commission on Health Care Certification, n.d.).
A healthcare professional who coordinates ongoing services, providers, and insurance authorizations to support day-to-day care (Case Management Society of America, 2022; Commission for Case Manager Certification, n.d.).
| Dimension | Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) | Case Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Forensic projection of future needs | Coordination of current care |
| Time horizon | Lifetime (expected life expectancy) | Active case period |
| Output | Written plan with itemized costs | Ongoing service coordination notes |
| Certification | CLCP via ICHCC, with prior clinical credential | CCM (Commission for Case Manager Certification) or similar |
| Litigation role | Expert witness | Fact witness (sometimes) |
| Methodology source | IALCP / IARP standards | Case management standards (CMSA, etc.) |
Retain a CLCP when projecting lifetime care costs for a catastrophic injury or chronic condition, typically for trial, mediation, or settlement purposes.
Engage a case manager when coordinating active medical care, provider access, or insurance authorizations during the active treatment period.
Both professionals may hold nursing or rehabilitation backgrounds, and CLCPs often have prior case management experience. The distinction is scope and purpose: forensic lifetime projection (CLCP) versus active care coordination (case manager).
The same professional sometimes performs both functions at different times, though it is uncommon within the same case - the treating case manager typically does not serve as the forensic life care planner to preserve independence.
Sometimes as fact witnesses regarding coordination they performed. Expert testimony on future needs is generally the life care planner's role.