WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2016 - Today the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) joined the Alzheimer's Association and advocates across the country in commending Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for improving access to care and support for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease. CMS has proposed to begin paying for those living with Alzheimer's disease to receive comprehensive care planning through a medical visit. This service, as outlined in the AIM supported Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act (S. 857, H.R. 1559), provides doctors with the opportunity to provide essential support for those facing this devastating and fatal disease.
"The HOPE for Alzheimer's Act is a critical piece of legislation to help the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, and their families, manage and improve care," said Robert Egge, Executive Director of AIM. "The decision by CMS to implement a new service that equips healthcare providers to provide much-needed information on treatment, services and supports, as outlined in the Act is a major step forward in providing better care for the millions of families facing Alzheimer's disease and related dementia."
Care planning is a critically important tool for effectively managing Alzheimer's disease and coordinating care for other conditions. Doing so benefits the individual and their families, and reduces care costs. Unfortunately, today physicians often do not diagnose Alzheimer's - or do not disclose a diagnosis once it is made - due to a lack of time and resources to provide information and support to patients and caregivers. The HOPE for Alzheimer's Act and the proposed CMS rule would provide physicians with the necessary time doctors say they need to talk to their patients about an Alzheimer's diagnosis and available support services.
Today, more than five million people are living with Alzheimer's, the most expensive disease in the nation and the only leading cause of death in the U.S. without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. Total national cost of caring for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias is estimated at $236 billion (excluding unpaid caregiving), of which $160 billion is the cost to Medicare and Medicaid.
For more information about the Alzheimer's Impact Movement, visit alzimpact.org.
