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Today, the Alzheimer’s Association and its relentless advocates applaud the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee for its commitment to the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and their more than 15 million caregivers. In a bipartisan effort, the committee included the Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 857) in its funding bill. Since its inception, the Alzheimer’s Association has been intricately involved with its creation and strongly endorsed the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act upon introduction by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). In the years since its initial introduction, the Alzheimer’s Association and its advocates have made securing bipartisan support for the legislation a key policy priority. As of today, the bipartisan bill has 55 cosponsors in the Senate and a companion bill in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1559), led by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), has 284 cosponsors.

“The Alzheimer’s Association applauds Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Edward Markey (D-MA), as well as Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and all members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for their continued steadfast commitment to improving care and support for America’s most expensive disease,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO. “The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act will give people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers access to critical information and support that will help in their journey with this devastating disease.”

If signed into law, the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act will ensure newly diagnosed Medicare beneficiaries receive comprehensive care planning services. In addition to its commitment to care and support services, today the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee also approved a $400 million increase in Alzheimer’s disease research funding at NIH.

“On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association and our advocates we thank Senator Stabenow for her leadership to ensure high quality medical care and better outcomes for individuals living with Alzheimer’s,” said Robert Egge, Chief Public Policy Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Consistent with the National Alzheimer’s Plan, the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act will ensure Medicare beneficiaries newly-diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their families receive comprehensive care planning services.”

Alzheimer’s Association grassroots advocates and staff held thousands of congressional meetings to secure support for the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act since the bill’s introduction, and has worked tirelessly to secure support for increased funding for NIH research. For more information on Alzheimer’s disease, visit alz.org.

Alzheimer's Association®
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit alz.org.

Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
Email: media@alz.org