Medicare may cover an Alzheimer's evaluation in which a provider uses SLUMS, but it does not separately guarantee payment for the test itself. Part B instead covers a broader cognitive assessment and care-planning visit, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. SLUMS is a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment and dementia in adults 60 and older. Its score can identify a need for further evaluation, but it cannot establish an Alzheimer's diagnosis by itself.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Official resources:
- Check eligibility on Slu’s official study page — Use this page to check the study’s participation requirements.
- Read the official guidance from CMS — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- What Medicare Part B actually covers
- What a SLUMS score can—and cannot—show
- Screening during a wellness or routine visit
- Why administering SLUMS alone is insufficient
- What you may pay and what to ask beforehand
What Medicare Part B actually covers
Part B covers a separate provider visit to assess cognitive function thoroughly. The provider can use this visit to establish or confirm dementia or Alzheimer's disease and develop a care plan. For a beneficiary showing signs of cognitive impairment, the provider may bill this comprehensive service under CPT 99483.
This billing code applies to dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, at any stage. The covered service is the full assessment and care-planning visit—not one particular questionnaire. A provider may choose slums as part of the evaluation, but Medicare does not publish a separate SLUMS benefit or billing code.
What a SLUMS score can—and cannot—show
A SLUMS screening measures cognitive performance through structured questions and tasks. It can help a provider detect possible impairment and decide whether a more complete assessment is appropriate.
Saint Louis University describes SLUMS as a free screening tool, but states that the results are not a clinical diagnosis and require evaluation by a qualified professional on its SLUMS examination page. That distinction matters for coverage. "Free" refers to the screening tool, not necessarily the appointment, professional evaluation, or other services delivered during the visit.
Screening during a wellness or routine visit
A provider may use a brief cognitive test during an Annual Wellness Visit or routine appointment. This initial screening can identify possible problems that justify a separate, detailed evaluation. Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit includes an assessment for signs of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
However, Medicare.gov explains that the wellness visit is not a diagnostic physical examination. If screening raises concerns, the next step may be the separately covered cognitive assessment and care-planning visit. The provider—not the SLUMS score alone—determines whether the findings support further evaluation.
Why administering SLUMS alone is insufficient
Giving SLUMS by itself does not satisfy the requirements for CPT 99483. CMS requires a comprehensive history and examination, high-complexity medical decision-making, an independent historian at the visit, and a written care plan. The independent historian provides information beyond the patient's account.
Before the appointment, ask the office who should attend in that role and whether the planned visit is a brief screening or the comprehensive service billed under CPT 99483. Also ask what the written care plan will cover and when you will receive it. These questions help distinguish a complete Medicare cognitive assessment from a stand-alone screening.
What you may pay and what to ask beforehand
Under Original Medicare, beneficiaries generally pay the Part B deductible and then 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the separate cognitive-assessment visit. Actual costs can vary with Medicare assignment, supplemental coverage, and the setting, as detailed by Medicare.gov's cognitive-assessment coverage page. Before scheduling, ask the provider's billing office:.
- Is this a brief cognitive screening or a comprehensive assessment?
- Do you expect to bill CPT 99483?
- Will the visit meet CMS requirements, including an independent historian and written care plan?
- Do you accept Medicare assignment?
- What amount should I expect to pay after Medicare and any supplemental coverage?
