Bringing Phlebotomy Reform to the Heart of Dementia Advocacy

Bringing Phlebotomy Reform to the Heart of Dementia Advocacy

Did you catch last month’s article on the growing crisis in access to lab services for older adults? Patrick O’Neill and the Serviam Diagnostics team shined a spotlight on how outdated phlebotomy policies are creating serious barriers in assisted living and memory care settings. Now, with the 2025 AIM Advocacy Forum around the corner, Serviam CEO Tim Donnelly is taking this conversation to Capitol Hill—and he wants to bring your voice with him.

In this follow-up Q&A, Tim breaks down the key challenges, why they matter for people living with dementia, and what needs to change. From missed diagnoses to unnecessary hospitalizations, the stakes are high—but so is the opportunity for meaningful reform. Read on to dive deeper and help shape the message that will drive action in Washington.

Bringing Phlebotomy Reform to the Heart of Dementia Advocacy

Every year, passionate volunteers from across the country head to Washington, D.C., to speak up for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. They meet with lawmakers, share their stories, and ask for meaningful change.

This year, one of those advocates is our very own Tim Donnelly, CEO of Serviam and board member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Heart of America Chapter. Tim has been invited to participate in the 2025 AIM Advocacy Forum (June 8–10), where he’ll spotlight a challenge that too often goes unnoticed—how outdated reimbursement policies are making it hard for assisted living and memory care communities to provide essential blood draws.

At Serviam, we see this as a major barrier to care. Without access to on-site phlebotomy services, residents and staff face unnecessary stress, delays, and health risks. Patrick O’Neill, President of Serviam Diagnostics and others dive into this issue in our April Network Member Newsletter—and this month, Tim asking for your input. When he heads to Capitol Hill, what message should he bring? Your voice matters.

Here’s a quick look at the key questions and answers driving this conversation:

1. What’s the core issue?
   Right now, assisted living and memory care communities aren’t recognized by Medicare as eligible sites for routine blood draws—unless the resident meets strict “homebound” criteria. This leaves many people, especially those living with dementia, without access to vital lab services.
2. Why does this matter for people with dementia?
   Routine blood tests help catch infections, medication issues, and other treatable problems early—some of which can mimic or worsen cognitive symptoms. Without on-site lab draws, residents face stressful transports and delayed diagnoses, leading to preventable crises.
3. Who’s most affected?
   Older adults with chronic conditions who need frequent labs, people with dementia who can’t easily leave their care setting, and residents in rural or lower-income areas are hit hardest. Staff and caregivers also feel the strain when on-site services aren’t available.
4. What’s the bigger impact?
   Missed or delayed diagnostics mean worse health outcomes and higher healthcare costs from emergency visits and hospitalizations. It also widens health inequities—especially for private-pay residents and underserved communities—and puts more pressure on already stretched caregivers.
5. What needs to change?
   We need Medicare to cover phlebotomy services in assisted living and memory care. States should have the option to use Medicaid waivers for mobile diagnostic services, and phlebotomy should be built into value-based care models and Medicare Advantage plans.
6. How do we make that happen?
   Stakeholders—from providers to families—can team up with mobile lab companies to test scalable solutions, share data on delays and outcomes, and advocate for updated reimbursement rules. Educating decision-makers on how lab access protects dignity, health, and cost-efficiency is key.

These six questions and answers highlight just how urgent this issue is—and how much potential we have to improve lives with the right policies. When Tim goes to D.C., he’ll carry a message about health equity, smarter spending, and the need for dignified care. But your voice matters too.

If you have thoughts or ideas you want to share with legislators, please reach out. Together, we can help bring compassionate, practical reform to the forefront of dementia care.

Email Tim with your thoughts at tim.donnelly@serviam.org.