Improving HOPE for Alzheimer's Act (H.R.1873/S.880) would require Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct outreach to health care practitioners regarding comprehensive care planning services that are available under Medicare for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The CMS must report on its outreach efforts, as well as on the number of beneficiaries receiving such services and any barriers to access.
For individuals living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, care planning is essential to learning about medical and non-medical treatments, clinical trials, and support services available in their community. As of January 2017, Medicare reimburses providers for care planning. However, too few providers and patients are aware of this benefit.
As a bipartisan bill, it has 240 Cosponsors in the House (over half of the members) and 47 Senators (almost half). Yet the Bills have not been placed on Calendars for a vote.
Join me and the Alzheimer's Association in asking your members of Congress to support H.R.1873 and S.880 and ask their leadership to bring these Bills to vote. I thank Congressman David Scott of Georgia District 13 for his Cosponsorship of this important legislation and encourage his ongoing leadership in moving this Bill though the committee.
Jim Williams Ambassador and State Champion
Alzheimer's Association Georgia Chapter
Smyrna Georgia
