Dementia
Most Medicare patients with dementia skip the free yearly wellness visit, study finds
In a study of nearly 800,000 Medicare patients with dementia, 60.8% had no Annual Wellness Visit in three years, and those with more visits were more likely to start a dementia medication.
Key facts
- Most Medicare patients with dementia in a large study had no yearly wellness visit.
- Those with more visits were more likely to start a dementia medication.
What happened
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch published a study in JAMA Network Open on October 27 looking at Medicare records for 799,268 people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. They counted how many Annual Wellness Visits each person had over three years. Most, 60.8%, had none. About 19% had one, 13% had two and 7% had three or more.
Within the next year, 9.8% of people with no wellness visits started a new dementia medication, compared with 11.5% of those with one visit, 12.8% with two and 14.1% with three or more. The link was stronger for people who were newly diagnosed. The authors note the study shows an association, not proof that the visits caused the difference, and it covered only people in traditional Medicare with drug coverage. The wellness visit includes a brief memory check, a fall-risk review, a medication review and advance care planning.
What it means for families
The yearly wellness visit is a covered Medicare benefit that many families never use. It is a set time to raise memory concerns and review medications.
For example: a daughter who notices her mother repeating questions can write down what she has seen and bring the list to the wellness visit, so the doctor hears specifics.
The visit is different from a regular physical, so ask for it by name.
What this means in New York: Medicare rules are the same in every state, so New York families can ask any primary care office to schedule the Annual Wellness Visit.
What to do this week
- Ask the doctor's office when the Annual Wellness Visit was last done.
- Bring written notes on changes in memory or daily habits.
- Bring a full list of medications to the visit.
Sources
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