By Kenneth E. Thorpe
Nearly half of American voters have a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And Alzheimer’s will touch even more families in the years ahead, as the number of Americans living with the fatal disease nearly doubles by 2050.
Thankfully, scientists are developing new tools to help diagnose and manage Alzheimer’s. Among the most promising are blood tests that could help millions of Americans receive diagnoses earlier — so they can start treatment sooner.
But it’s not enough for these tools to exist. Patients need access to these promising tests as soon as they’re approved. For that to happen, Congress will need to pass legislation ensuring Medicare can cover new screening tests — and cut the red tape that currently risks preventing Alzheimer’s patients from getting the care they need.
A bipartisan bill, the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, would do precisely that. The bill offers lawmakers an opportunity to remove a barrier standing between patients and earlier diagnosis, potentially allowing patients to get valuable time back.
Continue reading “Alzheimer’s Patients Deserve Answers Sooner”
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