CMS announces dementia care model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week announced the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience model to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia, enabling them to stay in their homes and reducing the strain on unpaid caregivers. Participating Medicare Part B providers and suppliers will receive a monthly per-beneficiary amount for providing care management and coordination, caregiver education and support services. Some safety net providers will be eligible for a one-time, lump sum infrastructure payment to support program development. Organizations interested in participating can submit a letter of interest to CMS by Sept. 15; the agency will release a request for applications this fall. The model will run for eight years beginning July 1, 2024. (CMS news release, 7/31/23)