Better payment rules to improve nursing home care for people with Alzheimer’s
Aligning incentives across Medicaid and Medicare for nursing home residents with AD/ADRD
Seeing if changing how Medicaid and Medicare pay nursing homes can help people with Alzheimer’s in nursing homes get better care and avoid unnecessary hospital trips.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298992 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers will look at how differences between Medicaid and Medicare payments affect care for nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. They will analyze billing and health records and compare states or facilities with different Medicaid per‑diem rates to track hospital transfers, readmissions, and on‑site care. The team will model costs and likely outcomes to see whether higher Medicaid daily payments encourage nursing homes to treat sicker residents in place rather than sending them to the hospital. This work uses administrative and claims data and policy comparisons rather than asking residents to try new therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in U.S. nursing homes who have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, especially those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, are the focus of this work.
Not a fit: People with dementia who live at home or those seeking new clinical drugs or therapies are unlikely to benefit directly from this policy and data project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, improve day‑to‑day care in nursing homes, and lower overall costs for people with dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior health policy studies show payment incentives affect hospital transfers and care patterns, but direct tests of raising Medicaid per‑diem rates for dual‑eligibles are limited.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Werner, Rachel M — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Werner, Rachel M
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.