Care access and outcomes for people with dementia in Medicare–Medicaid special needs plans

Health Care Access, Quality, and Outcomes among Individuals with Dementia in Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans

NIH-funded research Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11311940

This project looks at how special Medicare–Medicaid plans support people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias in getting medical care and home-based services.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionJohns Hopkins University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project IDNIH-11311940 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You will learn how Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D‑SNPs) coordinate Medicare and Medicaid services for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The team will link Medicare and Medicaid claims and plan data to track who receives home and community‑based services, personal care, case management, hospital care, and nursing home stays. They will compare integrated D‑SNPs that manage both Medicare and Medicaid benefits to other plans to see which approaches lead to more consistent care. Researchers will use large administrative datasets and statistical methods to identify patterns that could inform better plan design and policy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are enrolled in a D‑SNP.

Not a fit: People who are not dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, not enrolled in a D‑SNP, or do not have dementia are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help plans and policymakers improve coordination so people with dementia get better home supports and avoid unnecessary hospital or nursing home stays.

How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies suggest integrated Medicare–Medicaid plans can improve care coordination, but the evidence is limited and mixed and this project builds on those findings.

Where this research is happening

Baltimore, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementia
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.