Better memory care access for low-income seniors on both Medicare and Medicaid
Evidence to improve access to memory care for disadvantaged individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11337544
This project looks at why older adults who have both Medicare and Medicaid have trouble getting memory care and what changes could help them get diagnosed and treated.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11337544 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, the team will analyze Medicare and Medicaid records and compare people with similar memory risk across different states and communities to see who gets memory care and who does not. They will examine how things like Medicaid payment rates, how many memory specialists are nearby, and whether someone lives in a rural or urban area affect access. The researchers will use statistical methods that try to separate the effects of state rules, health system practices, and individual barriers, and may look at administrative and policy details that make it hard to bill two programs. The goal is to identify practical policy or system changes that could make it easier for dual-eligible seniors to get diagnosis, counseling, and treatment for memory problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are U.S. residents aged 65 or older who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and who have memory concerns or a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
Not a fit: People under 65, those with only Medicare or only private insurance, or individuals without cognitive concerns are unlikely to be directly included or benefit immediately from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help more low-income older adults with dementia get timely diagnosis and treatment and reduce inequities in memory care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has documented that dual-eligible seniors are less likely to receive dementia diagnosis and care, but this grant’s causal decomposition of state, provider, and patient factors is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MATTKE, SOEREN — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: MATTKE, SOEREN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.