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Alzheimer's Association statement on care coordination

Alzheimer's Association statement on care coordination
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May 12, 2009
Email: media@alz.org
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Alzheimer's Association statement on care coordination

As the leading research and advocacy organization for Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association commends Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) for their leadership in offering the Reaching Elders with Assessment and Chronic Care Management and Coordination Act (S. 1004 and H.R. 2307), which seeks to improve the coordination of care for the growing elderly population with multiple chronic conditions.

This legislation is especially significant for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias because most have one or more other serious medical conditions and as a result incur high healthcare costs.

As the current Medicare program focuses primarily on treatment of acute episodes of illness and one specific disease or condition at a time, it doesn't adequately meet the needs of beneficiaries who have dementia and other multiple chronic conditions. With an aging baby boomer generation at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, it is important to address this issue now before these numbers climb higher.

This legislation is a tremendous first step in substantially improving the healthcare delivery system while lowering costs for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions by providing much needed assessment and care coordination necessary for these expanding populations.

According to the Alzheimer's Association's 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report, there are 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease today and most have other chronic conditions. For example, in 2004, 26 percent of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's and other dementias also had coronary heart disease; 23 percent also had diabetes; 16 percent also had congestive heart failure; and 13 percent also had cancer.

Cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer's and other dementias greatly complicates the management of these other conditions, resulting in more hospitalizations, longer hospital stays and higher costs than those with these same conditions but no Alzheimer's disease.

The 2009 Facts and Figures report also highlights Medicare claims data that illustrates the results of combined dementia and co-morbid medical conditions. In 2006, for example, Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes plus Alzheimer's or another dementia had 64 percent more hospital stays than those with diabetes and no Alzheimer's, and their average per-person costs were $20,655, compared to $12,979 for beneficiaries with diabetes but no Alzheimer's or dementia.

The Alzheimer's Association urges congressional members to co-sponsor and eventually pass this important legislation.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

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