The Alzheimer’s Disease Waiver Program

The Alzheimer’s disease waiver program was established in 2005 to test the effectiveness of interventions to delay or avoid institutional placement for elders with Alzheimer’s disease. The program offers 11 services designed to allow participants to remain in the community and to support their caregivers. The Alzheimer’s disease waiver program does not delay nursing home entry more effectively than the state’s other Medicaid waiver programs that serve elders with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In addition, it cost the state more, on average, for participants in the Alzheimer’s disease waiver program than most other waiver programs. However, it cost the state less to serve this population through waiver programs than it did to serve similar persons through the traditional Medicaid program.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Waiver Program