Medical costs of Alzheimer's disease misdiagnosis among US Medicare beneficiaries.

Diagnostic errors are moving toward the forefront of patient safety. This study analyzed Medicare patients that were initially misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer disease prior to their diagnosis of vascular dementia or Parkinson disease. These patients used more medical services, costing approximately $9,500 to $14,000 more each year, up until the time of their correct diagnosis.