A group of state’s top lawyers wrote a letter pleading to have Medicare begin covering Alzheimer’s treatment.
Although there is no known cure, there are effective albeit costly treatments available. Twenty-three attorneys general have recently argued for cheaper prices and greater availability.
Medicare Restrictions
Many people with Alzheimer’s have to spend thousands of dollars out of their own pockets to afford antibody treatments like Eisai and Leqembi since the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) now set strong restrictions on them. It was reported earlier this year that the annual cost can be over $26,000, making it out of reach for many people.
Twenty-three state attorneys general petitioned CMS to lift the ban on Medicare coverage of these drugs in a letter posted on May 1.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have worked together to expand access to Alzheimer’s medicines before. In February, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate demanded that Medicare loosen its regulations.
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Discrimination Against Alzheimer’s Patients
Medicare won’t cover FDA-approved Alzheimer’s medications. This ruling will prevent people from receiving therapy today, even if their doctor advises them.
The Alzheimer’s Association asked CMS to cover all FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs by December 19, 2022. The group wants Medicare enrollees to access FDA-approved medications without clinical trials.
Medicare has always covered HIV/AIDS, cancer, and heart disease therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It is unprecedented and wrong for CMS to discriminate against persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
There is a national emergency due to Alzheimer’s disease. This strategy exacerbates an already severe access-to-care gap by limiting treatment options to those who can afford to participate in expensive clinical trials.
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