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CMS GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience)

Medicare innovation model providing comprehensive dementia care coordination, caregiver education and training, and up to $2,500/year in respite services for qualifying caregivers. Launched July 2024 for an 8-year demonstration period (Section 1115A authority). Two participation tracks: Established Program Track (July 2024) and New Program Track (July 2025). CMS currently lists 320 participants. Care recipients must be enrolled in Traditional Medicare Parts A and B and not enrolled in Medicare Advantage, PACE, or hospice. As of July 1, 2026: patients living in memory care units are not eligible for GUIDE; patients in Residential Care Communities (RCCs) may receive most GUIDE services, including caregiver education and support, but are not eligible for GUIDE Respite Services. Duplicate records medicare-guide and medicare-guide-model point to this canonical record.

Comprehensive dementia care package delivered through GUIDE participants: care navigation, clinical and community-service coordination, caregiver training and education, 24/7 support access, connections to community resources, and respite services up to $2,500 annually for qualifying caregivers. Respite may include in-home care, adult day center programs, and facility-based respite. CMS currently lists 320 participants. Patients must meet GUIDE eligibility and align through a participating provider; availability depends on the provider's service area. As of July 2026, memory care unit residents are not eligible, while RCC residents may receive most GUIDE services but are not eligible for GUIDE Respite Services.

Eligibility

  • Care recipient must have a qualifying disability

Services

Comprehensive dementia care package delivered through GUIDE participants: care navigation, clinical and community-service coordination, caregiver training and education, 24/7 support access, connections to community resources, and respite services up to $2,500 annually for qualifying caregivers. Respite may include in-home care, adult day center programs, and facility-based respite. CMS currently lists 320 participants. Patients must meet GUIDE eligibility and align through a participating provider; availability depends on the provider's service area. As of July 2026, memory care unit residents are not eligible, while RCC residents may receive most GUIDE services but are not eligible for GUIDE Respite Services.

How to apply

Use the official program page for application details: official program page.

  • medicare-guide (supersedes): Duplicate record consolidated into guide-model (canonical) 2026-06-10
  • medicare-guide-model (supersedes): Duplicate record consolidated into guide-model (canonical) 2026-06-10