Hospice of the Chesapeake Selected to Test New Medicare Model for Dementia Care

Hospice of the Chesapeake announced that it has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in a new alternative payment model for Medicare designed to support people with dementia and their caregivers. Under CMS’s Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model, Hospice of the Chesapeake will be one of nearly 400 participants establishing Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) across the country to improve care coordination and increase access to services and supports, including respite care, for people with dementia and their caregivers.

“CMS is pleased to partner with Hospice of the Chesapeake under the GUIDE model,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “GUIDE is a new approach to how Medicare will pay for care for people with dementia. GUIDE participants are finding new ways to not only support people with dementia, but also to reduce the burden on the people who care for them, so more Americans can remain in their homes and communities, rather than in institutions.”

The GUIDE model, which launched on July 1, 2024, tests a new approach to payment for key support services provided to people with dementia, including comprehensive, person-centered assessments and care plans; care coordination; 24/7 access to an interdisciplinary care team member or helpline; and certain respite care services to support family caregivers. People with dementia and their family caregivers will have the help and support of a Care Navigator to help them access clinical and nonclinical services such as meals and transportation through community organizations.

The Maryland Department of Health estimates that 130,000 state residents age 65 and older will be living with dementia next year. “That’s an 18 percent increase since 2022,” said Brian Berger, chief operating officer of Hospice of the Chesapeake. “As the largest independent nonprofit hospice organization in Maryland, we are a leader in hospice and supportive care. Participating in the GUIDE model is critical to better care for these patients and their caregivers.”

Hospice of the Chesapeake’s participation in the GUIDE model, which will launch in July 2025 for residents of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, will help people with dementia and their caregivers access education and support, such as training programs on best practices for caring for a loved one with dementia. The GUIDE model also offers respite care for select individuals, allowing caregivers to take temporary breaks from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite care is being tested under the GUIDE model to assess its impact on helping caregivers continue to care for their loved ones at home, preventing or delaying the need for institutional care.

GIDS Participants represent a broad range of health care providers, including large academic medical centers, small group practices, community-based organizations, health systems, hospice agencies, and other practices.

This model delivers on a promise in the Biden Administration’s Executive Order to expand access to quality care and support family caregivers, and aligns with the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. For more information about CMS’s GUIDE model, visit: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide.