Usage patterns of cognitive assessments during Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit: A national survey.

Introduction: Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a logical opportunity for early detection of cognitive impairment, but recent data for uptake and cognitive assessments during it are lacking.

Methods: We surveyed Medicare beneficiaries of a nationally representative panel about use of AWV and cognitive assessments and analyzed associations between uptake and beneficiaries' characteristics.

Results: Of 1871 participants, 80% had an AWV, among whom 31% underwent formal cognitive testing, 35% were asked about memory problems, including 15% having both.

Understanding disability benefits decision-making among adults with self-reported work disabilities: A qualitative study.

Background: Take-up gaps in safety net programs, long documented in the US, are an important policy problem as non-take up compromises the equity objectives and efficacy of programs. The Social Security Disability program is an example of this: more than 20 million adults report a work disability, but only around 11 million currently receive disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs.

Objectives: We examine decision-making around benefits application among adults with self-reported work disability who have never applied for disability benefits.

Implications of treatment duration and frequency for value and cost-effective price of Alzheimer treatments.

Background: Disease-modifying Alzheimer treatments are becoming available. The value of the treatments will be attenuated by their complexity of delivery and monitoring, creating additional medical cost and caregiver burden.

Objective: To estimate net treatment value using different assumptions for treatment duration and intensity.