UsAgainstAlzheimer’s recently applauded new legislation that provides support to the millions of caregivers connected to people with Alzheimer’s and with Medicare insurance.
The bill provides a significant portion of evidence indicating that supportive and counseling services offered to unpaid family caregivers of patients who have Alzheimer’s can delay the institutionalized care received by patients. This is harmful to the caregiver, the patient and the health insurance industry.
“Like me, many family caregivers face inadequate access to resources, training and support, and we are struggling to provide high-quality care to our loved ones,” Daisy Duarte, full-time caregiver to her mother and advocate for LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s, an UsAgainstAlzheimer’s network, said. “Passing family caregiver support legislation not only has economic benefits for our country, it is the compassionate thing to do for millions of caregivers -- and future caregivers -- who need help.”
Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Shelly Capito (R-WV), along with Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA), were instrumental to the legislation.
“I applaud Sens. Capito and Stabenow and Representatives Sanchez and Roskam for recognizing the ample evidence that suggests Medicare should offer a caregiver support benefit tied to beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s disease to better support the physical and mental health needs of family caregivers and to reduce health care spending associated with institutional care costs,” George Vradenburg, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s co-founder and chairman, said. “I urge Congress to promptly enact this bill into law given the urgency of the problem, and I hope the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will consider moving forward to rapidly design and implement such a demonstration as soon as possible.”
