Alzheimer’s and Dementia: National and Local Advocacy

Today’s Discussion is all about:

New Health Care Bill Passed by the House Medicaid becomes a per capita grant program instead of an entitlement (or block grant if states choose). CBO estimates that this change will reduce federal Medicaid spending by $880 billion over ten years. One of the worries for vulnerable adults may be that states will not be required to continue funding waiver services like HCBS.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia are the most expensive disease in America. Dementia Cost 2017 Alzheimer’s and Dementia are the most expensive disease in America. In 2017, the total cost of Alzheimer’s and Dementia is $259 Billion

State Dementia Cost 2017 The average annual Medicaid spending on a senior without Alzheimer’s: $349 The average annual Medicaid spending on a senior with Alzheimer’s: $8,182

Dementia Research Funding vs. Care Cost Amount Spent on Care Amount Spent on Research

NIH Alzheimer’s Research Funding National Alzheimer’s Project Act: Solve Alzheimer’s by 2025 Goal of $2 billion/year NIH Funding for Alzheimer’s Research 2015: $641 million 2016: $991 million 2017: $1.31 billion

The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act Palliative Care Facts: A recent study shows that nursing home residents with dementia who receive palliative care at the end of life, compared with those who do not receive such care, are: up to 15 times less likely to die in a hospital nearly 2.5 times less likely to have a hospitalization in the last 30 days of life up to 4.6 times less likely to have an emergency room visit in the last week of life.

The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act Palliative Care Facts: Hospice care is now available in nearly three quarters of surveyed nursing homes, but less than half of surveyed nursing homes report having some sort of palliative care program. Of those nursing homes with a palliative care program, only 42% include consultation by a physician certified in hospice/palliative care, and only 28% percent had a designated palliative care director. In the 2014-15 academic year, only 265 physicians were trained in hospice and palliative medicine by accredited programs. An expert Task Force concluded that 6,000 more full-time health care professionals are needed to serve current needs in hospice and palliative care programs.

The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act PCHETA would: Establish palliative care and hospice workforce training programs for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Create a national education and awareness campaign to inform patients, families, and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care and available services and supports. Enhance research on improving the delivery of palliative care

Local Issues: Access to behavioral health services