New RealClearHealth op-ed from Charles Sauer highlights why Washington must remove barriers to early diagnosis and treatment.
Most Americans say they would want to know if they had Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms appeared. Thanks to advances in blood-based testing and new therapies, early detection can now give patients and families the opportunity to slow disease progression, plan for the future, and preserve quality of life.
In a new RealClearHealth op-ed, Market Institute President Charles Sauer argues that outdated government policies are preventing Americans from accessing the very tools that could make the greatest difference.
“The question is no longer whether patients want to know if they have Alzheimer’s. The technology is here and they are ready to use it. The human and economic upside to acting early is clear. It’s Washington that needs to catch up.”
Sauer explains that while traditional Medicare covers Alzheimer’s blood tests in many cases, many Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance plans still do not. He also criticizes Medicare’s Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) policy, which places additional bureaucratic hurdles on FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments, limiting access for patients—particularly those in underserved communities.
Beyond improving patient outcomes, expanding access to early diagnosis could significantly reduce the growing financial burden Alzheimer’s places on families and taxpayers. Medicare spends approximately $174 billion annually caring for Alzheimer’s patients, while families shoulder roughly 70% of lifetime caregiving costs through out-of-pocket expenses and unpaid care.
“Getting bad government policies like CED out of the way could open the door to earlier diagnosis on a broad scale and allow patients to take action. That would be a victory not only for patients and families, but for taxpayers.”
The article also highlights recent Market Institute polling showing overwhelming public support for expanding access to early detection and treatment, with nearly eight in ten voters saying they are more likely to support candidates who prioritize Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care.
Read the full RealClearHealth op-ed by Charles Sauer to learn why modernizing Alzheimer’s policy should be a national priority.
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