[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E652-E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH OUTCOMES, PLANNING AND EDUCATION ACT (HOPE) 
                            FOR ALZHEIMER'S

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2011

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my fellow co-chair 
of the bipartisan Alzheimer's Task Force Mr. Smith (R-NJ) and 
colleagues Rep. McDermott  (D-WA), Burgess (R-TX), Bordallo (D-GU), 
Christensen (D-VI), Grijalva (D-AZ) and Pierluisi (D-PR) to introduce 
the bipartisan Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for 
Alzheimer's Act.
  One in eight Americans over 65--or 5.4 million individuals--have 
Alzheimer's disease. Unless science finds a way to prevent or cure it, 
over 13 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease by the year 
2050.
  The HOPE Act aims to improve the way we diagnosis Alzheimer's disease 
and other dementias and provide important information about care and 
treatment for patients and their families. The bill provides Medicare 
coverage for comprehensive diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease to 
guarantee that seniors who show signs of Alzheimer's can receive a 
formal diagnosis from their doctor and that this diagnosis is 
documented in their medical record. The bill would also improve care 
and reduce costs by providing information and resources to newly 
diagnosed patients and their families by including, for the first time, 
caregivers in discussions with doctors and patients.
  At present, most people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias 
have not received an official diagnosis. Data from a report done by the 
Alzheimer's Association found only 19 percent of people over age 65 
with dementia had a diagnosis documented in their medical record. 
African American and Hispanic populations, at higher risk for 
Alzheimer's disease than whites, are even less likely to have been 
diagnosed.
  Early diagnoses can help individuals receive treatments early, when 
medications are more likely to be effective, and they allow patients to 
participate in clinical trials to benefit from cutting edge research. 
With an early diagnosis, patients can prepare for the oncoming symptoms 
of the disease with their doctors and caregivers. Ultimately, this can 
bring down Medicare costs by helping patients better manage other 
preexisting medical conditions and avoid crises.
  Each year, the federal government spends $93 billion out of Medicare, 
or almost 20% of the entire Medicare budget, to care for Alzheimer's 
patients. This money pays for hospitalizations, doctor's visits, and 
drugs associated with the disease. Facilitating conversations with 
doctors and caregivers and providing resources for families can help 
mitigate the number of hospitalizations and complications for patients 
with the disease.

[[Page E653]]

  While we work here in Congress to invest more funding for Alzheimer's 
research to find a cure, we must continue to help the families who have 
been impacted by this devastating disease. This bipartisan legislation 
is a good step toward ensuring these important measures are taken.
  The Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Foundation, Cure Alzheimer's 
Fund, and UsAgainstAlzheimer's have endorsed our legislation, which 
will increase the likelihood that Alzheimer's will be diagnosed sooner 
and help families plan for the necessary treatments and care. I look 
forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on this important 
issue throughout the legislative process.

                          ____________________