Political Quotes

“I rise to introduce the Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention ASAP Act. This bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to cover FDA-approved blood-based biomarker tests for Alzheimer's disease, expanding access to earlier and more accurate diagnoses for millions of Americans. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. It currently affects more than 7 million Americans, including an estimated 29,000 individuals in Maine. That number is expected to increase in the coming years as our population ages. Alzheimer's is also the most expensive disease in America. The cost of caring for people with Alzheimer's and other dementia was an estimated $360 billion in 2024. Total costs are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2050 unless we take meaningful action. Early diagnosis of this disease is critical. It allows patients and their families to better plan for the future, access care and support services, and take advantage of available treatments that are most effective in the early stages.”