Alzheimer's Foundation of America Applauds Inclusion of Cognitive Screening for Medicare Beneficiaries in Senate Finance Committee Health Refor...(ember 22. The provision for cog...),Health

The provision for cognitive screening is included in a section on promoting disease prevention and wellness that would give Medicare beneficiaries access to a comprehensive health risk assessment to identify chronic diseases, modifiable risk factors, and emergency or urgent health needs. As part of the annual wellness visit, the proposal states that "optional elements, if appropriate, could include a cognitive impairment screening and administration of or referral for appropriate Medicare-covered immunizations and screening tests, among others."

All enrolled beneficiaries would be eligible for the wellness visit once every year beginning in 2011, and no co-payment or deductible would apply. Within six months of completing the assessment, Medicare would pay for a visit to a primary care provider to create a personalized prevention plan.

In a report, "Memory Matters," released last December, AFA underscored the value of memory screenings, noting that current research supports screening as a "safe, cost-efficient intervention that can reassure the healthy individual, promote successful aging and, when indicated, direct individuals to appropriate clinical resources."

At the time, Hall said the report serves as a "wake up call" to the public and medical professionals, as well as to policymakers.

The proposed inclusion of cognitive screening in the Medicare wellness visit is unfolding as AFA gears up for its National Memory Screening Day on November 17, an annual event that offers free, confidential memory screenings in local communities. Qualified healthcare professionals are expected to administer the non-invasive screenings to tens of thousands of Americans as well as distribute educational materials to countless others at more than 2,000 sites in local communities nationwide.

AFA encourages individuals who are concerned about memory loss, are e
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