Hospice of the Chesapeake is set to participate in a novel Medicare alternative payment model focusing on dementia care, as announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This initiative, known as the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, aims to enhance service coordination and accessibility for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
CMS’s GUIDE Model will incorporate nearly 400 participants nationwide, developing Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) to support enhanced care coordination and accessibility to essential services. This includes respite care, which is critical for reducing caregiver strain and allowing patients to remain in their homes rather than institutional settings.
CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the innovative approach to Medicare’s payment structure under the GUIDE Model. “GUIDE participants are envisioning new ways to support not only people living with dementia but also to reduce strain on the people who care for them,” Brooks-LaSure stated. This model is designed to keep more Americans in their communities, which is seen as a preferable alternative to institutional care.
Starting July 1, 2024, the GUIDE Model will trial a new payment method for essential supportive services provided to those living with dementia. This includes comprehensive assessments, care coordination, round-the-clock access to care team members, and specific respite services to aid caregivers.
A Care Navigator will assist dementia patients and their caregivers in accessing both clinical and non-clinical services, such as meals and transportation, through community-based organizations.
Brian Berger, Chief Operating Officer of Hospice of the Chesapeake, highlighted the growing need for such services in Maryland, where the number of residents aged 65 and over living with dementia is expected to reach 130,000 by next year—an 18% increase since 2022. “As Maryland’s largest independent not-for-profit hospice organization, it’s imperative to participate with the GUIDE Model so that we are better able to care for these patients and their caregivers,” Berger noted.
Scheduled to launch in July 2025 for residents of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, Hospice of the Chesapeake’s participation in the GUIDE Model will provide access to educational resources and support. This includes training programs on best practices for dementia care and respite services to allow caregivers temporary relief from their caregiving duties.
The GUIDE Model also aligns with the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. For more information on CMS’ GUIDE Model, please visit their website.
