Eight in 10 voters from both parties want Medicare to cover the cost of FDA-approved drugs that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, finds a survey published last week.
Why this poll is important: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is severely limiting coverage for an entire class of new Alzheimer’s therapies with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. BIO and others criticized the decision, saying it undercuts FDA’s authority and expertise.
It’s personal: More than half of respondents know someone with Alzheimer’s, about 40% have a family member with the disease, and one-quarter have cared for someone with Alzheimer’s.
Some specifics:
- 83% agree (74% strongly agree) Congress should require Medicare to cover FDA-approved treatments that can slow progression of Alzheimer’s.
- 74% agree (63% strongly) President Biden should require Medicare to cover these treatments.
- 89% agree (80% strongly) Medicare should be required to cover FDA-approved drugs.
Consensus: Strong support was found “across gender, age, race, party identification, region, 2020 presidential ballot, and connection to Alzheimer’s,” the survey shows.
What they’re saying: “Voters are looking to lawmakers to ensure that everyone who can benefit from FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer’s has access to them,” says George Vradenburg, Chair of UsAgainstAlzheimer's, one of the groups that commissioned the survey.
About the survey: 1,000 likely 2024 voters were asked about Medicare funding for Alzheimer’s drugs in a Lake Research Partners and Public Opinion Strategies survey. The survey was commissioned by four Alzheimer’s patient advocacy groups: LEAD Coalition, Alliance for Aging Research, Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.
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