FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer

People living with Alzheimer’s deserve the same access to FDA-approved treatments as those living with any other disease. Right now, Hoosier advocates are in Washington DC urging Members of Congress to prioritize Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

While my fellow Hoosiers advocates are in Washington DC, I am advocating here in Indiana in honor of both my parents.

Advocates across the country have been relentless in their efforts to shed light on the devastating toll of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. For the first time, we have two treatments for the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease that can drastically change the course of this fatal disease. While we should be celebrating this accomplishment, we instead are facing unprecedented barriers from CMS, as they are denying coverage of these important treatments. We need CMS and our Members of Congress to hear our voices and act quickly to remove barriers to treatments. I hope you will join me in calling on Representative Victoria Spartz to join our efforts and press CMS to remove barriers to treatment. Everyday matters to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their families, and we must act now.

Treatment options for Alzheimer’s offer more time with your loved ones. What would “more time” mean to you and your family?

Every 65 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and every day, more than 2,000 people progress to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s, where they are no longer eligible for treatment.

Without Medicare coverage, people living with Alzheimer’s disease will be expected to pay $26,000 per year for treatment.

Just as is true for those living with other diseases, people with Alzheimer’s and their doctors should be able to decide if an FDA-approved treatment is right for them without worrying about Medicare coverage. Representative Spartz, please lead Hoosier lawmakers in pushing CMS to cover FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments.