U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) called on Tuesday for implementation of a program that would evaluate how support for family caregivers impacts the long-term care needs of those with Alzheimer’s disease.
In a letter to the acting administrator of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Capito requested a demonstration program to evaluate whether support for family caregivers can delay or reduce the need for long-term institutional care and other services.
“Today, more than 15 million Americans are serving as a family caregiver to a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, providing nearly 18 billion hours of unpaid care annually,” Capito and Stabenow wrote. “These loving but largely untrained and unsupported family caregivers face many challenges. Mounting evidence suggests that targeted support services directed to these informal family caregivers may help the caregiver prevent or mitigate these challenges and help keep an Alzheimer’s patient in the home setting for longer periods of time.”
Capito and Stabenow cosponsored the bipartisan Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act, S. 857, last year. The bill would provide information about Alzheimer’s disease and treatment options through care management planning sessions for newly diagnosed Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers.
“Alzheimer’s is a disease close to my heart, and we must work to improve its diagnosis and educate Americans about the treatment options available to them,” Capito said at the time. “By expanding Medicare payments to assist newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s patients in obtaining medical services through The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, we can work to effectively combat this tragic disease.”
U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) also signed Tuesday’s letter to Burwell.