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For Rashmita Basu, PhD, dementia caregiving is more than just a research interest—it’s personal. As a leading health economist specializing in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), Basu has dedicated her career to studying the financial and service delivery challenges patients and caregivers face. But beyond the data and policy analysis, she carries with her the profoundly personal experience of watching her father and the family navigate dementia. 

“I saw firsthand how difficult it was—not just for him, but for our entire family,” she recalls. “The emotional and financial strain of caregiving is something you can’t truly understand until you’ve lived it.” 

This personal connection fueled her research, including her current work with the Hopkins Economics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Services (HEADS) Center at Johns Hopkins University. 

A Journey into Dementia Care Research 

Basu’s academic career has always been rooted in caregiving economics. Her dissertation focused on informal dementia caregiving, but over time, she expanded her research to examine the formal care system, particularly home healthcare services and post-acute care. 

She first connected with the HEADS Center in 2023, when she attended the Summer Institute. This opportunity allowed her to network with leading experts in the field, including BSPH professors Jennifer Wolff, PhD, Daniel Polsky, PhD, and Katherine Ornstein, PhD, MPH, BA. “That summer program solidified everything for me,” she says. “It aligned so closely with where I see my research going—not just now, but in the next five to ten years.” 

In 2024, she was awarded a HEADS Center pilot grant, allowing her to further investigate how recent Medicare policy changes impact dementia patients’ access to home health care. I am very much appreciative to the HEADS Center for supporting my research on this area, which is very much near and dear to me! 

How Policy Changes May Be Restricting Dementia Care 

Basu’s current research examines the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), a 2019 Medicare reform that altered how home health services are reimbursed. While the intent of the policy was to shift care toward patients’ clinical needs rather than therapy-based reimbursement, Basu is investigating whether it has unintended consequences—specifically, whether it limits access to home healthcare for dementia patients. 

She hypothesizes that since most home health agencies in the U.S. operate as for-profit businesses, the new payment model may have inadvertently discouraged them from admitting dementia patients from the community. Many dementia patients do not enter home healthcare through hospital referrals, and because community admissions now receive lower reimbursement rates, agencies may be prioritizing other types of patients. 

“If this policy is making it harder for dementia patients to receive home health care,” Basu explains, “it could have major consequences—pushing more patients into institutional settings, increasing caregiver burden, and worsening their health and well-being .” 

Bridging Policy and Real-World Impact 

Basu’s research aims to shape inform policies so that they enable equitable access to home health care for dementia patients. If her findings confirm a decline in care access, it could lead to policy recommendations for Medicare adjustments, ensuring that vulnerable patients are not overlooked. 

Her personal connection to dementia caregiving continues to inform her work. “I think about my father every time I analyze this data,” she says. “I know what these families are going through, and I want my research to help make things easier for them.” 

Before transitioning to academia, Basu spent eight years working in a healthcare system, giving her a real-world perspective on how policies affect patient care. Now, at the HEADS Center, she is using her expertise to drive meaningful change—helping policymakers and families navigate the economic challenges of dementia care. Through her research and advocacy, Basu is proving that economics isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people, families, and the future of dementia care.