[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S8709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT ACT

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that 
takes a tremendous personal and economic toll on both the individual 
and the family. Today, an estimated 5.3 million Americans--including 
more than 25,000 Mainers--are living with Alzheimer's disease, more 
than double the number in 1980. If nothing is done to change the 
current trajectory, 13.5 million Americans over the age of 65 will have 
Alzheimer's disease by 2050.
  In addition to the suffering it causes, Alzheimer's costs the United 
States $172 billion a year, primarily in nursing home and other long-
term care costs. This figure will only increase exponentially as the 
baby boom generation ages. If nothing is done to slow or stop the 
disease, Alzheimer's will cost the United States $20 trillion over the 
next 40 years.
  At a time of mounting deficits, the increasing number of Alzheimer's 
cases has dire implications for our Federal budget as well. The average 
annual Medicare payment for an individual with Alzheimer's is three 
times higher than for those without the condition. For Medicaid, 
average payments are nine times higher. Failure to achieve progress in 
the fight against the disease will result in Alzheimer's costs to 
Medicare skyrocketing more than 600 percent and costs to Medicaid 
growing more than 400 percent by 2050.
  Despite these alarming projections, to date there is no national 
strategy to defeat Alzheimer's, and our efforts to combat the disease 
have lacked coordination and focus. That is why I am so pleased that 
the Senate last night passed the National Alzheimer's Project Act, 
which I introduced with Senator Bayh, to create a coordinated strategic 
national plan for combating Alzheimer's disease.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act, which is based on a key 
recommendation of the nonpartisan Alzheimer's Study Group led by former 
House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, 
will launch a campaign within the Federal Government to overcome 
Alzheimer's disease. First, it directs the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to create a coordinated National Alzheimer's Disease 
Plan to combat Alzheimer's disease. This plan will be updated annually 
and a report will be submitted to Congress assessing the Nation's 
progress in preparing for the growing burden of Alzheimer's disease.
  The legislation also establishes an Interagency Advisory Council to 
advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the plan, which is 
also to include implementation steps and recommendations for priority 
actions. The advisory council is also charged with coordinating all 
Federal efforts on Alzheimer's research, care, institutional services, 
and home and community-based programs.
  Funding for these activities will come from existing funding 
appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services. No new 
funding is authorized. The coordinated effort called for in the 
legislation will simply ensure that our existing resources are 
maximized and leveraged to combat Alzheimer's disease.
  Our legislation has broad, bipartisan support. It was passed out of 
the Senate HELP Committee unanimously, and it has now been approved 
unanimously by the full Senate, clearing it for action by the House of 
Representatives.

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