Medicare cognitive assessments: utilization tripled between 2018 and 2022, but challenges remain : report to congressional committees
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, December 2023
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Alzheimer Disease Government Regulation Healthcare Disparities Medicare Mental Status and Dementia Tests -- statistics & numerical data Neurocognitive Disorders United States United States. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S.)
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. The number of Medicare beneficiaries living with a cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is projected to increase as the American population age 65 and older grows. Such beneficiaries’ health care costs are also projected to increase. CMS began covering the cognitive assessment and care plan services visit in 2017 to increase access to cognitive care services in Medicare. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, includes a provision for GAO to review use of the cognitive assessment service in the Medicare program. This report describes (1) utilization of the cognitive assessment service in traditional Medicare from 2018 through 2022; (2) stakeholder views on challenges providers face delivering and beneficiaries face accessing the service; and (3) steps CMS has taken to increase awareness of the service. GAO analyzed claims and enrollment data from traditional fee-for-service Medicare from 2018 through 2022 to identify service utilization. GAO interviewed officials representing seven stakeholder groups regarding access and delivery challenges. Organizations included the American Academy of Family Physicians and AARP. GAO also scanned literature to identify research on access challenges; and interviewed agency officials regarding the agency’s outreach campaign. GAO provided a draft of this report to HHS.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (iii, 37 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918750688306676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918750688306676