WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the bipartisan HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act passed out of the Labor-Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) appropriations subcommittee yesterday. The Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act would require Medicare to pay for a care planning session to provide Alzheimer’s patients and their families an early assessment, information about the disease and possible treatment options.

“Having recently experienced the challenges of caring for parents with Alzheimer’s, I understand the difficulties that caregivers and family members face,” said Senator Capito. We need to do more to improve the diagnosis of this disease and educate Americans about treatment options. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am thrilled that The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act was included in the Labor-HHS bill that passed out of the subcommittee with bipartisan support.”

Senators Capito, Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced this bipartisan legislation in March 2015. The bill creates a new care-management planning session for newly diagnosed Alzheimer's patients under Medicare. This new benefit would encourage doctors to give a clear diagnosis to patients with Alzheimer’s disease, including information about treatment options and what medical and community services are available.
 

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