Dementia care management is an important tool to improve the quality of care, ease the challenges of Alzheimer’s caregiving and reduce costs. Despite the benefits, dementia care management programs have not developed within the current Medicare fee-for-service system.

The Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act, developed closely with bipartisan congressional champions in the 117th Congress, would streamline today’s complicated health care maze for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The bill would ask the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a different payment structure for dementia care management. This model would provide services such as the development of a dementia care plan, care coordination and navigation, and caregiver education and support.

Thanks to AIM advocates, there was tremendous bipartisan support for this bill (134 House cosponsors, 39 Senate cosponsors) in the 117th Congress. AIM looks forward to building on this support with the 118th Congress.