FEDERAL PRIORITIES
Build a Better Path to Dementia Care
Comprehensive dementia care has been shown to reduce costs while providing better quality care. Unfortunately, dementia care management programs have not developed within the current Medicare fee-for-service system. The bipartisan Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act (S. 1125 / H.R. 2517) would ask the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a different payment structure for dementia care management.
Support Equity in Alzheimer's Clinical Trials
In order to ensure that future treatments and means of prevention are effective in all populations, Alzheimer’s and dementia research must be reflective of the U.S. population. The bipartisan Equity in Neuroscience and Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials (ENACT) Act would increase the participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials by expanding education and outreach to these populations, encouraging the diversity of clinical trial staff and reducing participation burden.
Increase the Commitment to Alzheimer's Research
Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease in America, costing an estimated $321 billion in 2022. By mid-century, as the number of people living with the disease is set to nearly triple, the costs to our economy are projected to reach nearly $1 trillion, with two-thirds of these costs paid by Medicare and Medicaid. Congress has recently provided additional funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), yet a greater investment is still needed. AIM and our advocates continue to grow bipartisan support for increased research funding. Congress must increase Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding by $226 million fiscal year 2023.
Fund the Alzheimer's Public Health Infrastructure
In December 2018, Congress overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (P.L. 115-406). The law directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen the public health infrastructure across the country by implementing effective Alzheimer's interventions focused on public health issues such as increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing avoidable hospitalizations. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act will accomplish this by establishing Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence, providing funding to state, local, and tribal public health departments, and increasing data analysis and timely reporting. Congress must fund the BOLD Act at $30 million a year.
Support our Nation's Dementia Caregivers
An estimated 11 million Americans are providing unpaid care to someone living with dementia, and they need our support. While providing this assistance can be rewarding it's also quite challenging for the caregiver to sustain. The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act (S. 56/H.R.1474) would provide much needed relief for our nation’s dementia caregivers.
Join the Alzheimer's Congressional Task Force
Since its founding in 1999, the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease has worked to advance research and public awareness of Alzheimer’s and all dementia by bringing the disease to the forefront of the congressional agenda. The Task Force has been instrumental in helping advance policies to improve the lives of all those impacted by Alzheimer’s. Join us in encouraging all members to join this important task force.
Advocate for Medicare Coverage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a draft decision effectively proposing to deny Medicare access to FDA-approved medications for Alzheimer’s disease. Medicare has always covered FDA-approved treatments for those living with other conditions like cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. We need your help to reverse this draft decision.
