|
Federal and State Alzheimer’s Advocacy
Federal Update
I n this election year a great deal
of discussion has been devoted
to health care and how universal
health care coverage might be
achieved. There are already tens
of millions of uninsured persons
in this country and newly
unemployed persons who face the
loss of their health care insurance.
As such, the situation is of
increasing and immediate concern.
In this context, the Alzheimer’s
Association has sought to raise
awareness regarding Alzheimer’s
disease as a 21st century health care
crisis through advocates’ messages
to the presidential candidates as
well as Association media alerts. For example, 10 million
U.S. baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s; by 2010 there
will be almost a half million new cases of Alzheimer’s
disease a year; and by mid-century someone will develop
Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds.
The health care debate must recognize the long term
care needs of the aging population. For those who are and
will be in need of long term care in the time to come, there
are a myriad of issues that will require governmental action.
Among the long term care issues that have come under increased
discussion are: chronic care management, the need
for coordinated care, workforce development, increased
support to family caregivers, the high costs of private care,
preservation of the Medicaid safety net, and extension of
Medicare to a wider population of need. At the same time
as these needs intensify, the costs to the federal government
of the Medicare and Medicaid programs are projected to
continue to greatly increase.
Many of the above issues were raised at the Alzheimer’s
Association 20th Annual Public Policy Forum held in May.
At the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing during
the Forum, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day
O’Connor, whose husband has Alzheimer’s, spoke movingly
of family caregivers “who make fundamental sacrifices
and adjustments in their lives” to care for their loved
ones. In this context the Association continues to advocate
for funding for programs that support caregivers including
the 24/7 call center helpline, the Centers for Disease Control
Brain Health Initiative, and MedicAlert + Safe Return.
Advocates attending the forum from all over the country
including those of us from New York State and New York
City discussed the Alzheimer’s Association federal legislative
priorities during visits with their elected representatives.
The two major federal legislative priorities raised were:
- Increase funding for Alzheimer’s research at the National
Institutes of Health by $125 million this year
to find treatments to delay or reverse the progression
of Alzheimer’s and accelerate progress toward the
goal of $1 billion annually for Alzheimer’s research.
- Phase out the Medicare two-year waiting period so
individuals under 65 with Alzheimer’s are eligible for
Medicare immediately after they receive their determination
of disability.
State Update
The New York State Legislature recessed in late June and
will not fully resume until January although it may meet
once or twice over the summer and at election time in November
and December. A number of bills proposed were
not acted upon including the Family Health Care Decisions
Act. Long a priority of the Coalition of NYS Alzheimer’s
Association Chapters, the bill would enable families to make
medical decisions for patients who lack decision-making
capabilities and do not have a health care proxy in place.
The Omnibus Alzheimer’s Services Act of 2008 passed
by the Legislature and awaiting transmission to the governor
is of particular interest and benefit for the Alzheimer’s community.
The bill was developed with input from the Coalition.
The bill calls for training and education of law enforcement
personnel including state and local law enforcement
agencies and other appropriate entities regarding persons
with cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer’s disease
and other dementias. A model “silver alert” program is to be
developed as a prompt response and notification program
to be used by state and local law enforcement agencies to
help locate a cognitively impaired citizen reported missing.
A statewide universal health care coalition known as
“Health Care for All New York” (HCFANY) is emerging.
In addition, health care reform proposals for New York
State have been developed by different organizations including
the Community Service Society Cornerstone and
the United Hospital Fund/Commonwealth Fund. Assemblyman
Richard Gottfried has also developed a proposal.
At this point in time while incremental steps may be taken
by the state to expand health coverage, universal health care
plans are proving too costly given the state’s fiscal problems.
— Ann Berson, MUP
Vice President,
Director of Public
Policy
 Previous | Next 
|
