Access to Care Planning

An announcement on November 3^rd stated that people living with Alzheimer’s disease will have access to care planning with a medical professional. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its decision to pay for cognitive and functional assessments and care planning for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments. The decision, first announced in July as a proposal, comes following rapidly growing bipartisan support in Congress for the Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 857, H.R. 1559). CMS has now made it easier for physicians to provide critical care and support services for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease. These individuals will finally have access to critical care and support services that can improve quality-of-life for the individual, their family and caregivers,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO. “Now that care planning sessions will be available to them, individuals living with the disease will have access to much-needed information on treatments and services.” For too long there has been a critical gap in care and support with individuals unable to receive a necessary diagnosis and care planning support from care providers. Proper care planning results in fewer hospitalizations, fewer emergency room visits and better management of medication, all of which improves the quality-of-life for both patients and caregivers, and helps manage overall care costs,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association Chief Public Policy Officer. For additional information on access to care planning visit: media@alz.org and alz.org.