The Alzheimer's Association has a successful history of bringing people together to tackle the challenges of Alzheimer's disease. Our advocate network, together with the Association, is responsible for the following victories over the last decade. We're leading the fight!
| | 2011 | One of the Association's top legislative priorities, the National Alzheimer's Project Act (S.3036), has been signed into law. | | 2010 | For the first time, the decennial Healthy People report included objectives for Alzheimer’s and other dementias reflecting and underscoring the growing public health threat they pose to the nation. | | 2010 | Advanced a new Medicare benefit that includes the detection of cognitive impairment as part of the annual wellness visit beginning January 2011. | | 2010 | Elimination of the Social Security Disability (SSDI) two-year waiting period for those diagnosed with younger or early-onset Alzheimer's disease, giving expedited access to SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Learn more. | | 2010 | Ensured that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contained provisions to help people with Alzheimer's disease, their families and their caregivers, such as a federal long-term care insurance program. | | 2009 | Secured an additional $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("stimulus bill"). Of the $5 billion awarded so far, the NIH has invested $77 million in Alzheimer's grants. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative was among the studies to receive funding. | | 2009 | Helped pass legislation in more than 20 states that brought together individuals with Alzheimer's, state agencies, legislators, care providers and caregivers to develop and implement comprehensive State Government Alzheimer's Disease Strategic Plans. | | 2005 | Established the leading standard of quality for nursing homes and assisted living by offering practice recommendations and training for professional providers, as part of our Quality Care Campaign. | | 2004 | Gained inclusion of Alzheimer's medicines in Medicare's Drug Formulary (covered drugs). | | 2003 | Won passage of Medicare's Part D Drug Benefit, which went into effect in 2006. | | 2001 | Secured rehabilitation benefits for Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease so individuals were no longer denied this coverage. | | 2000 | Won passage of the Family Caregiver Support Program, included within the Older Americans Act. The program supports a number of community-based programs, including respite care, adult day care, counseling services and caregiver training. |
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