Despite mounting political pressure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to deny Medicare beneficiaries living with Alzheimer's access to critically important, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medical treatments. CMS's policy is unprecedented. Medicare covers all FDA-approved drugs for every other disease. Despite conclusive evidence and the support of leading Alzheimer’s researchers from around the world, these Alzheimer’s treatments are the only ones that Medicare refuses to cover. This is disease discrimination, and it must end. 

Congressional leaders agree. Thanks to AIM advocates, bipartisan leaders have told CMS that their mistreatment of people living with Alzheimer’s is unacceptable. Last month, 72 House and 20 Senate leaders sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure emphasizing the importance of access to FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments. 

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that each day CMS leaves this misguided policy in place, more than 2,000 individuals aged 65 or older transition from mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s to a more advanced stage of the disease where they are no longer eligible for the new FDA-approved treatments. Treatments taken in the early stages of Alzheimer’s would allow people more time to participate in daily life, remain independent and make health care decisions for their future. 

During the AIM Advocacy Forum, hundreds of advocates will urge the Biden Administration to reverse this policy. You can amplify their voices now by taking action and demanding CMS stop denying access to FDA-approved treatments for people living with Alzheimer’s — a fatal disease.