Project Ready:
Ramping up Education of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia for You
The READY Act recommends that health care providers:
- Use validated cognitive assessment tools to screen patients age 65 and older during yearly Medicare wellness visits. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) suggests using assessment tools and the clinical practice guidelines from the Alzheimer’s Association.
- Practice early detection and timely diagnoses. Just as screening for health conditions and diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer gives people access to preventive health services and early diagnosis, the same is true for Alzheimer’s disease and dementias. Cognitive decline can be difficult and time consuming to discuss with patients, but there are many assessment tools for limited-time office visits provided by the Alzheimer’s Association.
- Use Medicare CPT code 99483 for a clinical visit that leads to a comprehensive care plan. Care planning is beneficial because it gives patients and caregivers opportunities to learn about medical and non-medical treatments, clinical trials, and services available in the community. Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives can be reimbursed. Because care planning for people with dementia is an ongoing process, care plans should be updated at least once a year or when disease has progressed.
Reduce the risk of cognitive decline for all patients, particularly among people of diverse communities, by promoting healthier lifestyles.
Trainings, Data, and Reports
- Project ECHO connects dementia care experts with health care teams from primary care practices in a free continuing education series of interactive, case-based, video-conferencing sessions
- EssentiALZ is essential training that meets Florida requirements for long-term and community-based care settings
- Alzheimer’s Association offers continuing education opportunities
- BRFSS Statistical Brief: Cognitive Decline Optional Module provides guidance for analyzing data collected through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report can be a source for timely information on Alzheimer’s disease and dementias
Clinical Trials
Continuing Education and Professional Development
CME Opportunities
- Florida Nurses Association – Approved provider of nursing contact hours through the Florida Board of Nursing, offering many continuing education courses throughout the year, in both in-person and online
- Alzheimer’s Association – Offers continuing medical education on Alzheimer’s and dementia, including free CEU options. These resources help physicians, radiologists, neurologists, nurses, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, psychiatrists, and other clinicians to remain current in this fast-changing field.
- essentiALZ – Training and certification on person-centered care practices offers continuing education credits for nursing, social work, physical therapy, psychology, occupational therapy and nutrition/dietetics professionals working in long-term care and community-based settings.
- Department of Elder Affairs – Guide to register, train, and take CE’s in the subject of guardianship.
- Relias Academy: Accredited continuing education provider used by many of the state’s largest health systems and hospitals.
- Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
- Epidemiology of Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Diverse Populations
- In Vivo Imaging Versus Neuropathology
- An Introduction to Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA) and Its Management
- Project ECHO
Professional Development
Florida State University, Department of Geriatrics – REACH Program has a free video training series on Working with Patients with Dementia in Primary Care Settings, led by geriatrician, Dr. Michael Gloth in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer’s Association International Conference is the largest and most influential international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention advance care planning course to encourage public health and aging services professionals to consider their vital role in assisting older Americans plan and document what should be done in the event they become seriously ill or lose decision-making capacity.
Medicare Codes
- Medicare CPT code 99483 for a clinical visit that leads to a comprehensive care plan.
- Medicare CPT codes 99497 & 99498 for a discussion, explanation, and completion of advance directives.
- Commonly used ICD-10 codes for dementia and mild cognitive impairment, CPT codes that cannot be reported in conjunction with 99483, and CPT codes that can be reported with 99483 on the same date of service.