This week the United States Senate released the Better Care Reconciliation Act, legislation intended to reform our nation’s health care system. The Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) are deeply concerned by provisions in the bill. In its current form, the legislation could reduce support for the millions of vulnerable seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias who rely on Medicaid services. These proposed cuts to Medicaid would likely be devastating for many of these individuals.
Tell your Senators to support individuals living with Alzheimer’s now!
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Alzheimer’s is progressive and fatal. In its later stages, those who have it require an extraordinarily high level of hands-on care. Today, more than 1 in 4 seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are on Medicaid. It is the only public program that covers the long-term nursing home stays that most people with dementia require in those late stages of the disease. It also covers home and community-based services which are critical for people with dementia, particularly in the early and middle stages of the disease.
We also have serious concerns about the impact of this legislation on Americans living with pre-existing conditions including the 200,000 Americans living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association and AIM strongly urge the Senate to ensure meaningful protections are in place for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias to have continued access to affordable health care.
Until the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias have access to effective treatments and means of prevention, it is especially important that they have access to the quality care and support resources that the disease requires.
Please urge your Senators to address the huge challenges of these vulnerable Alzheimers.
