Federal Update
 In February, President
Bush released his proposed
2008 budget.
Once again proposed
funding for Alzheimer’s
research at the National
Institutes of Health
(NIH) would decline. In 2003 funding for Alzheimer’s research
reached a high of $658 million. Since 2003, however, funding
for Alzheimer’s research has dropped steadily with the result that
when medical research inflation is factored in, Alzheimer’s
research funding is more than $125 million or 15% lower now
than if Congress and President Bush had simply kept up with
medical research inflation.
The decline in funding continues at a time when there are now
5.1 million persons with Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s is the 7th
leading cause of death. A new report,Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and
Figures 2007, released at the 19th Annual Alzheimer’s Public Policy
Forum in Washington, DC in March, pointed out that every 72
seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. As such, the
Alzheimer’s key federal legislative priority for advocates, staff, caregivers,
and persons with early stage dementia attending the Forum
and preparing for visits to their Congressional representatives
focused intensely on the need for increased research funding.
The priority request was to increase funding for Alzheimer’s
research by $125 million to begin reversing the decline in
federal support for basic and clinical research. Increased funding
was also sought for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
order to ensure expedited review of Alzheimer treatments.
Continued funding for Alzheimer care programs not funded in
the President’s proposed 2008 budget was another priority.
These care programs include the national Alzheimer’s
Association 24/7 Call Center available 365 days a year, the CDC
Brain Health Initiative, the Alzheimer’s State Matching Grants to
enhance health care services for underserved communities, and
the Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® program for locating
missing persons with Alzheimer’s.
In addition, those making visits to Congress were asked to
seek their representatives’ co-sponsorship of the Alzheimer’s
Breakthrough Act of 2007, the main subject of a Congressional
Hearing on Alzheimer’s disease held by the Aging Subcommittee
of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee.
The bill seeks Congressional increases in authorization levels to
$1.3 billion to strengthen the commitment to Alzheimer’s research.
State Update
At the end of January, Governor Spitzer presented
his 2007-2008 budget which outlined his health
care plan. The governor’s plan encourages and
strengthens home and community-based care and
focuses on the concept of patient-centered care. His
proposal calling for eliminating the trend factor for
nursing home and hospital Medicaid rates set off a
storm of opinions in support and opposition. While
there was a great deal of support for the emphasis on
home and community-based care, concerns were
also voiced that institutionalized patients and direct
care not bear the brunt of cuts. A compromise was
reached with the restoration of a substantial amount
of the proposed cuts. The April 1 date for the passage
of the budget was again met.
In March, The Coalition of NYS Alzheimer’s
Association Chapters held its annual Advocacy Day
in Albany. To open the day, a press conference was
held at which Assemblyman Steven Englebright,
Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, and
Senator Martin Golden, Chair of the Senate Aging
Committee, presented five bills dealing with
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the bills was included in the enacted budget.
The bill calls for establishment of a Coordinating
Council for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
in the Department of Health. The Council is charged
with facilitating interagency planning and policy;
reviewing specific agency initiatives for their impact
on services related to the care of persons with
dementia and their families; and providing a continuing
forum for concerns and discussion related to
the formulation of a comprehensive state policy
relating to Alzheimer’s disease and services for persons.
The chapters are to have a role.
An advocates rally was held after the press conference,
and Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair of the
Senate Health Committee, received the Coalition’s
Advocate of the Year award in recognition of his
continuing support for issues of concern to the
Alzheimer’s community. Our NYC advocates then
made visits to NYC legislators to advocate for the
Coalition’s legislative priorities. As always, the day
was most worthwhile.
— Ann Berson, M.U.P.
Vice President, Director of Public Policy
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