Medicaid expansion and diagnosis experiences of people with frontotemporal dementia

Abstract INTRODUCTION Timely and accurate diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is essential for improving patient quality of life and alleviating caregiver burden. However, individuals with FTD often face barriers to care due to limited insurance coverage. This study examined whether residing in Medicaid‐expanded states is associated with diagnostic experiences among individuals with FTD. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 1,049 U.S. caregivers from the Association for FTD Insights Survey. Misdiagnosis was defined as receiving one or more incorrect diagnoses before an FTD diagnosis. Individuals were grouped by Medicaid expansion status (expanded, not expanded, inconclusive). RESULTS Misdiagnosis occurred in 527 cases ‐ 45.5% of individuals residing in expanded states, 55.1% in non‐expanded states, and 47.5% in inconclusive states. Residing in a Medicaid‐expanded state was associated with lower misdiagnosis odds (OR: 0.55; CI: 0.33–0.91). DISCUSION State‐level health policies may influence diagnostic accuracy and equity, warranting further investigation to guide policies addressing diagnostic disparities.