WASHINGTON, D.C., May 10, 2017 - As Congress considers options related to the Affordable Care Act, the Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) will evaluate proposals based on how they are likely to impact people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias and their caregivers. Given that we represent a highly vulnerable population with complex medical and long-term care needs, we urge Congress to carefully and deliberately assess the impact of policy proposals on the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and their over 15 million caregivers.
As the legislative process continues in Congress, the Association and AIM will work to ensure that all bills under consideration contain the strongest provisions possible to address the particular challenges and concerns of our constituents.
The Association and AIM call on Congress and the president to maintain a sustainable, person-driven long-term support system in which people can have access to a full array of quality services including nursing home care and home and community based options. Medicaid is the only public program that covers nursing home stays that most people with dementia require in the late stages of the disease and home and community-based care for people in the early and middle stages of the disease. Today, more than one in four seniors with Alzheimer's and other dementias are currently on Medicaid. In 2017, Alzheimer's will cost $259 billion - $175 billion of which comes in direct cost to Medicare and Medicaid.
Another issue of critical importance is ensuring individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias have strong pre-existing condition protections that safeguard continued access to affordable health care. This is especially important to the 200,000 Americans under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is the only leading cause of death in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Particularly until the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer's and other dementias have access to effective treatments and means of prevention, we must provide them with a system that delivers accessible and effective care and support.
Alzheimer's Association ®
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit alz.org.
