Researchers urge Medicare coverage of driving assessments for at-risk, older adults.

A recent viewpoint published in JAMA Neurology by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital calls for Medicare to cover driving safety evaluations for older adults. The researchers highlight that car crashes among older adults led to thousands of deaths and injuries in 2020, and that 17% of individuals over 65 experience mild cognitive impairment, putting them at increased risk for crashes. While there are existing driving safety evaluation programs for older adults, these assessments are not covered by Medicare, making them financially burdensome for many individuals. The researchers argue that Medicare coverage of driving safety evaluations is necessary to mitigate harm and improve safety on the road. [Extracted from the article]