The Proportion Of Deceased Medicare FFS Beneficiaries With A Dementia Diagnosis Increased To Almost Half By 2017

In 2017, nearly half, 47.2%, of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia within two years of death, an increase from 34.7% in 2004. The frequency of dementia diagnosis increased significantly during 2011 through2013 after additional diagnoses were added to Medicare claims and Alzheimer’s-type dementia was added to Medicare risk adjustment strategies.

During the study period, an increasing number of inpatient, hospice, and home health claims noted a dementia diagnosis. Despite the increase in claims that noted a dementia diagnosis, outpatient visit and hospitalization utilization trends were similar in both 2004 . . .