Hawaii
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Encourage Utilization of the CMS Care Planning Code
Since January 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—through CPT® billing code 99483 — allows clinicians to be reimbursed for providing a comprehensive set of care planning services to cognitively impaired individuals and their caregivers. Participating in planning in the early stages of the disease allows individuals with Alzheimer’s to create advance directives regarding their care and finances as well as address driving and safety issues so that their wishes can be carried out when they are no longer cognitively able to make such decisions. Individuals receiving dementia-specific care planning have fewer hospitalizations, fewer emergency room visits, and better medication management. The low rate of usage of the Medicare care planning benefit in the first year shows that patients and providers are generally not aware of the existence of the benefit. In order to address this, we support establishing an outreach program in Hawaii's Department of Health to inform physicians and appropriate non-physician practitioners participating in Medicare that comprehensive care planning services for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias is a covered benefit under Medicare.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Establish Dementia-Specific Training Standards
Quality care for those with dementia, now and in the future, depends upon the quality of the workforce providing that care, as well as other factors. Competency-based dementia training of all direct service, administrative, supervisory and other staff who are involved in the delivery of care to those with Alzheimer’s disease employed by licensed providers is needed in Hawaii.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Improving the Kupuna Caregivers Program
Families and friends undertake the majority of caregiving for individuals with Alzheimer’s. Respite services, including in-home personal care and adult day care, can provide family caregivers with much needed relief and support. The Kupuna Caregivers program is a prevention program, assisting families before crisis strikes. Studies have shown that people who age at home with family are more likely to have better health outcomes, reducing hospitalization, ER visits, and institutionalization. The Kupuna Caregivers program aims to prevent burnout and reduce long-term costs. Currently, this program is underfunded. We support an incease in funding for Hawaii's Kupuna Caregivers program increasing support to $2,000,000 annually, ensuring more families living with dementia have access to much needed caregiver supports.
Hawaii State Plan Overview
Hawaii State Advocacy Day
March 02, 2020
Join advocates at the Hawaii State Capitol and help create change make a difference for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and their families. We will start the day with an advocacy training followed by meetings with key legislators. For more information and to RSVP please visit: https://act.alz.org/aloha
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Hawaii
State Affairs Contact Ian Ross | 808-652-3380 | [email protected]
Elected Officials
Enter your address here to see your elected officials' positions on Alzheimer's and ways you can contact them to support the Alzheimer's community.
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 29,000 |
| 2025 | 5,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 35,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$240
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
18.7%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$20,009
per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia (in 2019 dollars)
HOSPICE (2017)
#
of people in hospice have a primary diagnosis of dementia
of people in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
Geriatricians
Number of geriatricians in 2019
increase needed to meet Alzheimer's population needs in 2050
Hospitals (2017)
#
of emergency department visits per 1,000 people with dementia
dementia patient hospital readmission rate
increase in emergency deparment visits since 2007
Caregiving
Number of Caregivers
Total Hours of Unpaid Care
Total Value of Unpaid Care
Number of Deaths from Alzheimer's Disease (2018)
| 480 | total deaths in Hawaii | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Hawaii | |
| 307% | increase in Alzheimer's deaths since 2000 |
For more information, view the 2020 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report at alz.org/facts.
U.S. Statistics
Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, and as many as 13.8 million will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias is estimated to total $305 billion in 2020, increasing to $1.1 trillion (in today's dollars) by mid-century. Nearly 1 in 3 seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer's or another dementia.