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Donate NowPublic Policy Victories
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voice for Alzheimer's and dementia advocacy, fighting for Alzheimer's research, prevention and care initiatives and successfully bringing people together to tackle the challenge of Alzheimer's disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) and our passionate advocates are responsible for the following public policy victories.
Victory Timeline
Reauthorized BOLD Public Health Legislation
In December, the Association’s third bipartisan legislative priority was signed into law. The BOLD Reauthorization Act will enable public health departments to implement effective dementia interventions.
Renewed Nation’s Commitment to the Fight Against Alzheimer’s
In October, the bipartisan NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act were signed into law by the president, which will continue the critical work of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease.
Advanced Alzheimer’s Research Funding Increase and Continued Investment in Alzheimer’s Public Health Infrastructure
Secured a $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $34 million to continue to implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406).
Medicare Announces Test Model to Improve Dementia Care for Individuals Living With Alzheimer’s Disease, Caregivers
In July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new initiative to improve the way dementia care is delivered. This test initiative, the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, will be run through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). The CMS decision came following the rapidly growing support our advocates generated for the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act.
Advanced Increased Investment in Federal Research and Alzheimer’s Public Health Infrastructure
Secured $289 million increase in federal research funding and $25 million to implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (P.L. 115-406).
Built Bipartisan Support for the Younger-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Act
Ensured Americans living with dementia under the age of 60 can now utilize nutritional services, supportive services, and respite care through the National Family Caregiver Support program.
Protecting Our Nation’s Most Vulnerable
Together with our advocates, we advanced the Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act to protect people with dementia from elder abuse.
Educating Providers About Care Planning Available Through Medicare
The Association and AIM championed the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act to educate providers and increase utilization of critical care planning services available through Medicare.
Advocated for Federal Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research Funding Increases
Grew support for a $300 million Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding increase at the NIH. Today, federal funding is $3.2 billion annually, representing a more than seven-fold increase in research funding since NAPA passed.
Federal Alzheimer's and Dementia Research Funding Increase
Worked with bipartisan Congressional champions to secure an additional $350 million in federal research funding. Today funding for Alzheimer's and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is $2.8 billion annually, and representing a more than six-fold increase in research funding since the passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act.
BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act Becomes Law
In December, Congress passed and the president signed into law the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation developed in close partnership between the Alzheimer's Association, AIM and congressional champions.
Unprecedented Federal Research Funding Received
In September, Congress passed and the President signed into law a $425 million increase for Alzheimer’s research funding at the NIH in the FY2019 budget, bringing total annual funding to $2.3 billion.
RAISE Family Caregivers Act Becomes Law
The president signed the RAISE Family Caregivers Act to address the needs of our nation's family caregivers through the development and implementation of a coordinated national strategy.
Historic Federal Research Funding Increase
In March, Congress passed and the president signed a $414 million increase for Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for FY2018. This marked the third consecutive year of triple digit funding increases. In May, Congress passed and the President signed a historic $400 million increase for Alzheimer’s research funding at the NIH in the FY2017 budget.
Federal Research Funding Increase
In May, Congress passed and the President signed a historic $400 million increase for Alzheimer’s research funding at the NIH in the FY2017 budget.
21st Century Cures Act Signed into Law
In December, Congress passed and the president signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation with a goal of accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of new cures for all diseases including Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The legislation included $1.6 billion for BRAIN Initiative and an additional $1.5 billion for the Precision Medicine Initiative. The legislation also includes the EUREKA Act which will help to advance research breakthroughs for Alzheimer’s disease, and encourage public-private partnerships.
Medicare Announces it will cover Care Planning for Cognitive Impairment
In November, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its decision to pay for cognitive and functional assessment and for care planning services with a professional for those with Alzheimer’s, other dementia and cognitive impairment. The decision by CMS came following the rapidly growing support our advocates and staff have generated for the Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act in Congress.
FY2016 Omnibus Bill Passed and Signed Into Law
In December, Congress passed and the president signed into law the FY2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which included a $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research at the NIH. This is the largest annual increase ever in federal Alzheimer’s research funding — a nearly 60 percent increase.
Montana Publishes State Alzheimer's Plan
In December, Montana became the forty-sixth state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to publish a state Alzheimer’s plans to address and prepare for the Alzheimer’s crisis.
First Professional Judgement Budget Released
In July, the first Professional Judgment Budget for Alzheimer's research was released by the NIH, proposing to the U.S. Congress the continuation of a rapid ramp-up in Alzheimer's research funding. This budget is a direct result of the Alzheimer's Accountability Act, an Alzheimer's Association priority.
FY2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Signed
In December, Congress passed and the president signed into law the FY2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, incorporating the entirety of the Alzheimer's Accountability Act into the legislation. This legislation calls for the NIH to submit a Professional Judgment Budget for Alzheimer's disease research each year until 2025 to achieve annual research milestones established under the National Alzheimer's Plan.
$122 Million Funding Increase
Legislation is passed and signed which provided an additional $122 million in the FY14 budget for Alzheimer's research, education, outreach and caregiver support. This included $100 million for research, $20 million more than was in the president's FY14 budget request.
40th State Enacts UAGPPJA
The 40th state enacted the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act (UAGPPJA) which establishes a framework for courts in different states to communicate about adult guardianship cases.
NIH Director Provides $40 Million for Research
The Director of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins provided $40 million from the Director's budget for additional Alzheimer's research, which he announced at the annual Advocacy Forum.
Settlement for Jimmo v. Sebelius Approved
The Federal District Court of Vermont approved the proposed settlement agreement in the Jimmo v. Sebelius class action lawsuit which sought to end the application of the “improvement standard” as the basis for Medicare coverage decisions for skilled therapies. The Alzheimer's Association was a plaintiff in the class action lawsuit and supported the settlement agreement.
First National Alzheimer's Plan Released
The first-ever National Alzheimer's Plan was released by the administration in May 2012. In connection with the plan's release, Alzheimer's received an additional $50 million in federal research funding during the fiscal year.
National Alzheimer's Project Act Signed Into Law
One of the Association's top legislative priorities, the National Alzheimer's Project Act (S.3036), was signed into law.
SSDI Waiting Period Eliminated
The two-year waiting period for Social Security Disability (SSDI) for those diagnosed with younger or early onset Alzheimer's disease is eliminated. This change provides expedited access to SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Healthy People Report
For the first time, the decennial Healthy People Report included objectives for Alzheimer's and other dementias underscoring the growing public health threat they pose to the nation.
New Medicare Benefit
The Alzheimer's Association helps advance a new Medicare benefit that includes the detection of cognitive impairment as part of the annual wellness visit beginning January 2011.
Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Alzheimer's Association ensured that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contained provisions to help people with Alzheimer's disease, their families and their caregivers, such as a federal long-term care insurance program.
$10 Billion Secured for the NIH
Secured an additional $10 billion for the NIH in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("stimulus bill"). Of the $5 billion awarded so far, the NIH has invested $77 million in Alzheimer's grants. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative was among the studies to receive funding.
Quality Care Campaign
Established the leading standard of quality for nursing homes and assisted living by offering practice recommendations and training for professional providers, as part of our Quality Care Campaign.
Alzheimer's Medicine
Gained inclusion of Alzheimer's medicines in Medicare's Drug Formulary (covered drugs).
Medicare Part D Drug Benefit
Won passage of Medicare's Part D Drug Benefit, which went into effect in 2006.
Rehabilitation Benefits
Secured rehabilitation benefits for Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease so individuals were no longer denied this coverage.
Family Caregiver Support Program Passed
Won passage of the Family Caregiver Support Program, included within the Older Americans Act. The program supports a number of community-based programs, including respite care, adult day care, counseling services and caregiver training.
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