Alzheimer’s dementia affects one in nine people age 65 and older and kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken steps to address this public health crisis by increasing payment for and expanding access to cognitive assessment and care plan services.

Effective January 1, 2021, Medicare increased payment for these services to $282 (may be geographically adjusted) when provided in an office setting, added these services to the definition of primary care services in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and is permanently covering these services via telehealth.

For more details on Medicare coverage requirements and billing standards, visit www.cms.gov/cognitive.

And, for more information on assessing cognitive impairment, please refer to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resources for Professionals webpage.