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Alzheimer’s Science Is Advancing
RealClearHealth • • health
Key Points:
- The FDA recently approved two new blood tests for Alzheimer’s, but Medicare currently cannot cover them for preventive screening without congressional or federal action, limiting early diagnosis and intervention opportunities.
- The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act (ASAP Act) aims to authorize Medicare coverage for these FDA-cleared tests to enable early detection before symptoms appear, with strong public and bipartisan congressional support.
- California lawmakers are leading efforts to pass the ASAP Act, joined by about 200 House and 50 Senate cosponsors nationwide, yet Congress has delayed debating or passing the bill for nearly a year.
- Early diagnosis paired with lifestyle changes and emerging treatments can significantly delay cognitive decline and reduce healthcare costs, potentially extending patients’ lives and easing financial burdens on families and government programs.
- With Alzheimer’s-related care costs projected to reach $409 billion this year, advocates stress that timely Medicare policy updates are critical to match scientific advances and provide patients with crucial time for treatment and planning.
