In 2025, there were 5.6 million people living with dementia in the U.S., at a total annual cost of $781 billion; the number of people with dementia and the cost of their care are projected to increase markedly over the coming decades. Both primary care providers and specialists play an important role in the diagnosis and management of dementia, with 85% of diagnoses recorded by non-specialists. Medicare requires a cognitive assessment as part of the annual wellness visit, providing a financial incentive to engage in dementia screening. In addition, Medicare Advantage programs, in which 81% of Medicare-engaged primary care physicians participate, have a financial incentive to manage the cost and quality of care, and encourage preventive care, which may also increase dementia screening rates. However, little is known about how clinicians’ training in dementia screening and care and their engagement in Medicare Advantage influence their screening and management of patients with dementia. Using data from the NIA-funded National Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS), this study will examine clinician training pathways, self-reported readiness, engagement in Medicare Advantage, and dementia care practices, including cognitive screening, diagnostic processes, and referrals to specialists and community resources.

This project aims to: 

• Describe clinicians’ educational backgrounds, training in dementia care, years of experience, and self-reported readiness to care for patients with dementia. 
• Examine care processes such as cognitive screenings, diagnostic methods, specialist referrals, and familiarity with community-based resources, as well as the use of imaging and biomarkers. 
• Explore relationships between clinicians’ dementia care practices, their training, and the proportion of their patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

For more information, contact [email protected].