Alzheimer's Association Supports Medicare Bill

Alzheimer's Association
Tuesday, 25 November 2003

Congress has approved the biggest changes to Medicare since its creation in 1965, including a new prescription drug benefit, under $395 billion legislation. Debra Gilliam, a board member of the Alzheimer's Association's National Capital Area Chapter, issued the following statement regarding the Medicare bill at a press conference today:

Good morning, I am Debra Gilliam and I am here on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association.

The Alzheimer's Association supports this historic bill because it will provide relief to the 4.5 million Americans dealing with Alzheimer's disease, many of whom suffer from other health issues.

For the first time, Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease will receive coverage for needed prescription drugs. This coverage is critical, as pharmaceutical science and advancements can—and do—make a big difference in people's lives today, as drugs already on the market can help slow the cognitive impairment that comes with this disease. And drug therapy will make an even bigger difference in the years to come if there is full funding for the promising research underway that may help delay or even prevent Alzheimer's.

In this way, Congress can help people with Alzheimer's and their families by funding breakthrough research into new medicines and also by providing coverage under Medicare to provide seniors with the drugs they need.

Without this legislation, we would have been left with the devastating irony that science would produce answers to this disease, but that Medicare beneficiaries would not have coverage for them.

This is especially important as our nation faces a potential epidemic of Alzheimer's with some estimates as high as 16 million people with the disease as the baby boomers age.

People with Alzheimer's disease will certainly benefit greatly from prescription drug coverage that provides some up-front coverage and a cap on catastrophic health care costs. We are also pleased that the legislation provides a provides a start on providing care coordination for people with Alzheimer's and other chronic health conditions; offers subsidies to help protect low-income beneficiaries; and allows all Medicare beneficiaries, including those on Medicaid, access to the new Medicare drug benefit.

We are under no illusions that this is a perfect bill, and we will work with Congress to address our outstanding concerns. On balance, this is a good bill, and we will continue to work with the Congress to build on today's success.

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org