The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a draft decision that essentially denies coverage of treatments targeting amyloid for Alzheimer’s disease, including aducanumab (Aduhelm™), the first FDA-approved therapy to address the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s disease. The proposal deals a serious blow to everyone with dementia.
The CMS draft decision effectively denies Medicare coverage of FDA-approved medications for Alzheimer’s disease unless the person is enrolled in an approved clinical trial. This proposal severely restricts the number of people who could benefit from treatments today, and essentially blocks coverage of an entire class of potential future treatments designed to help those facing Alzheimer’s.
Medicare has always covered FDA-approved treatments for those living with other conditions like cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. For CMS to treat those with Alzheimer’s disease differently than those with other diseases is unprecedented and unacceptable.
Join me in asking Representative Marjorie Taylor to urge CMC to provide full coverage of this treatment for Alzheimer's.
Jim Williams
Alzheimer's Association Legislative Advocate
2020 Advocate of the Year
Ringgold, Georgia
678 469 0905