In 2013, Connecticut’s legislature passed Special Act 13-11, creating the state’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. The Task Force met to develop and publish a list of recommendations in December 2013 in the Report of the Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. The initial state plan focused on short-term goals to be completed over the course of three to five years. In January 2020, the Task Force published an update to the state plan, focusing on progress made, updating recommendations and expanding the role for the Connecticut Department of Public Health. In 2023, the state plan was updated after engaging with stakeholders and community partners. The state plan was informed by the twenty-five actions of 2018-2023 Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map and includes six goals to help address Alzheimer’s and dementia across the state.

Medicaid Reimbursement for Care Planning and Cognitive Assessments  

Early intervention can provide individuals living with dementia time to plan for the future, adopt lifestyle changes, participate in clinical trials and live more fully with a higher quality of life for as long as possible. Medicare beneficiaries in Connecticut have access to a billing code that covers cognitive assessments and care planning. However, those on Medicaid do not have access to this critical service. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state officials to ensure Medicaid coverage of CPT Billing Code 99483, which would reimburse providers for care planning and cognitive assessments for patients not enrolled in Medicare.