Report Finds Medicaid Costs for People with Alzheimer's to Increase

According to a new report released by the Alzheimer’s Association last week, New Hampshire Medicaid spending on people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will increase 56.6 percent by 2025. The report, The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on Medicaid Costs: A Growing Burden for States, found that Medicaid spending on seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia for New Hampshire in 2015 will total $211 million and will increase to $330 million over the next 10 years.

Seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias rely on Medicaid, which is funded by the state and federal governments, at a rate nearly three times greater than other seniors due to the long duration of the disease, the intense personal care needs and the high cost of long-term care services. Approximately 15% of the 2015 Medicaid budget in New Hampshire is spent on people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as the population ages this number will continue to rise.

“This report should really serve as a wake-up call to our public officials,” said Heather Carroll, manager of the New Hampshire office of the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter. “We need to be prepared with strong leadership and a plan to address this impact on our health care financing. Fortunately, we have begun that process.”

In 2013, New Hampshire created a permanent subcommittee under Health and Human Services to address the growing needs of the population with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Carroll serves as chair of the subcommittee which comprises state lawmakers, health care professionals and family care advocates.

To read the full report findings, visit alz.org/trajectory.