Patients in a comprehensive dementia care program were less likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility and had lower Medicare costs.

Context

Treating patients with dementia involves coordinating with caregivers, providers, and community-based organizations to address health and social needs. UCLA’s Alzheimer and Dementia Care (ADC) program engages dementia specialists to create and monitor individualized care plans for patients and their support networks. This study uses Medicare claims data to compare hospitalizations, long-term care facility admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and costs of care for patients enrolled in the ADC program with a comparison group.

Findings

Using a case-control study design, the authors found that patients in the ADC program were less likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility and had annual Medicare cost savings of $2,404 per patient. When factoring in program costs, the ADC was calculated to be cost neutral. Other outcome measures, such as hospitalizations and ED visits, did not differ between the two groups.  

Takeaways

The ADC program can help individuals living with dementia remain in their community and may be cost neutral or result in cost saving. This study is one among several that measure the effectiveness of the program.