Dementia Save Money and Save Dignity

Dementia Save Money and Save Dignity

With Australia facing a 200% upsurge in the number of people suffering from dementia, increased Federal funding is urgently needed to support early detection – to reduce the massive financial and personal cost of the condition.

That's the belief of the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), which is calling on the Federal Government to promptly address the way Medicare supports dementia sufferers.

'Because we don't have a cure for degenerative forms of dementia, early detection is the key," said Dr Chris Wriedt, ADIA's Vice President.

This allows patients to receive the correct drugs which can improve their quality of life. It can delay the need for expensive full-time care. And, just as importantly, it gives people time to prepare and make decisions about their future – an ability the dementia will eventually take away.

According to Alzheimer's Australia, the number of Australians with dementia is expected to increase from approximately 300,000 today to 900,000 by 2050. The total direct health and aged care cost for dementia was at least $4.9 billion in 2009-10.

As we come to the end of World Alzheimer's Month, Australia must be finding ways of dealing with this huge issue.

'Diagnostic imaging, particularly a CT (Computed Tomography) scan, is a primary diagnostic tool for dementia. It can identify the degree and distribution of brain shrinkage, and rule out pathology such as tumours or haemorrhages which may be causing the dementia," Dr Wriedt said.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) services might also be needed.

'To identify and then properly track the development of a patient's dementia requires a series of scans but, because of the way Medicare is currently structured, these can be very expensive – so expensive that many people are simply avoiding them," Dr Wriedt said.

'That must change."

Medicare rebates for medical imaging have not been indexed to match cost of living increases since 1998. This means the -gap' patients have to pay has been growing, and is now increasing by 10% per year. Some imaging is not rebated at all, leaving patients to pay the entire cost.

'As an industry we're doing what we can. For example, many practices bulk bill Health Care and Pension Card holders but many dementia patients don't qualify for these cards," Dr Wriedt said.

'It's now up to the government to reform the rebate system.

'Surely it makes economic sense to keep people out of high-cost, full-time care as long as possible. Providing appropriate Medicare rebates for diagnostic imaging services will help do that.

'And it will help improve the lives, and the dignity, of a huge number of Australians facing a cruel battle with dementia."

Background

Radiology is critical to the early detection and diagnosis, as well as tracking the progression, of degenerative forms of dementia.

Early diagnosis, including differentiation of the different forms of dementia, is vitally important for patients with dementia for numerous reasons including better outcomes for patients with treatable forms of dementia, earlier access to appropriate medications, better management of related issues such as depression, and greater dignity for patients who will be able to understand their diagnosis and make their own decisions.

Depending on the cause of the dementia, patients may need to access Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and/or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) medical imaging services on a repeat basis.

Access to PET and SPECT scans for patients with symptoms of dementia is significantly restricted through Medicare rules and funding, whilst the out-of-pocket costs borne by patients requiring specialist diagnostic imaging services is growing at more than 10% per annum.

Significant restrictions apply to Medicare funding of MRI scans, with only three examinations per annum covered, after which the patient is required to pay the full cost.  PET scans for forms of dementia do not attract a Medicare rebate, and the overall strict licensing requirements around PET in general mean that access to this imaging modality is very limited, despite it being a clinically recognised diagnostic tool for dementia.

To find out more about the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA) visit www.adia.asn.au.