Capito, Stabenow, Menendez, Wicker reintroduce bill to improve early assessment, diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVDN) – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), along with Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), on July 19, 2023, reintroduced the Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act, bipartisan legislation to encourage early assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Companion legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla).

“Now more than ever, as new treatments are being approved and there is new hope on the horizon for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families, action at the disease’s earliest stages is needed,” Senator Capito said. “By prioritizing early assessment and diagnosis, the CHANGE Act will allow patients to play a more active role in their treatment and care planning.”

“Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease that affects the whole family,” Senator Stabenow said. “Our bill helps encourage early diagnosis, relieves the burden on caregivers, and improves care for patients. We have strong partners in the fight against Alzheimer’s in the House and Senate, and I will continue working across the aisle to move this bill forward.”

“As someone who has witnessed and cared for a loved one live with Alzheimer’s, I understand how much the CHANGE Act and early diagnosis can impact the trajectory of this devastating disease,” Senator Menendez said. “This legislation would not only allow for earlier screenings and diagnosis, but it would also afford patients and families the time to plan care and treatments early. By increasing early detection and intervention, patients, families and caregivers will be in a better position to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.”

“Many Americans have felt the crippling impact and high cost of Alzheimer’s disease,” Senator Wicker said. “For the sake of those who will be diagnosed, we must do everything possible to find a cure. The CHANGE Act would move us in the right direction by improving access to early assessment and diagnosis, helping patients receive care earlier when it can make a bigger difference in their lives.”

The CHANGE Act is supported by the following groups: UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, Alliance for Aging Research, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, AMDA The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, and US Aging.

“There has never been a more important time to pass the CHANGE Act than now. New treatment options, such as leqembi, which the FDA approved earlier this month, are most effective for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. By requiring CMS to develop a uniform and reliable detection tool, and incentivizing healthcare providers to put an emphasis on early detection, the CHANGE Act could open the door for millions of Alzheimer’s patients to access medications that slow the progression of the disease and preserve their quality of life for a longer period of time,” George Vradenburg, chair and co-founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, said.

This year alone, approximately 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease. That number could grow to a projected 13.8 million by 2060. The direct financial costs of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias will also continue to increase exponentially, with projections indicating they will reach $1 trillion by 2050.

The CHANGE Act would better utilize the existing Welcome to Medicare initial exam and Medicare annual wellness visits to screen, detect, and diagnose Alzheimer’s and related dementias in their earliest stages.

Now, as new treatments are approved and glimpses at what could be on the horizon for those living with the disease emerge, ensuring screening and diagnosis is taking place is more essential than ever. An early documented diagnosis communicated to the patient and caregiver enables early access to care planning services and available medical and non-medical treatments and optimizes patients’ ability to build a care team, participate in support services, and enroll in clinical trials. It also would allow this devastating disease to be caught in its earliest stages, and ensure appropriate access to treatment.