How the ACO REACH program might change care for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias
The Impact of the ACO REACH Program on Health Outcomes for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
This project compares a new Medicare payment model called ACO REACH with other Medicare arrangements to see whether people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias get better care and health outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308703 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The researchers will use national Medicare data to compare beneficiaries in REACH ACOs, beneficiaries in the older MSSP ACOs, and beneficiaries not in any ACO. They will track outcomes important to people with dementia such as hospital visits, use of home-based services, and overall health service use. The team will also look at which specific care redesigns (for example, home-care waivers or global payments) ACOs implement and whether those changes help dementia patients. Washington University investigators will apply implementation science methods to link what ACOs do to what happens to patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Medicare beneficiaries living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who receive care within Medicare programs, particularly those attributed to an Accountable Care Organization.
Not a fit: People who are not on Medicare (for example, younger individuals with early-onset dementia or those covered only by private insurance) or who receive care entirely outside ACO arrangements may not see direct benefits from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide Medicare and health systems to adopt payment and care changes that reduce hospitalizations and increase home-based support for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research on earlier ACO models has produced mixed results for older adults, and the REACH program is new, so its effects on dementia patients are largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joynt Maddox, Karen Ellen — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Joynt Maddox, Karen Ellen
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.