Dec. 16, 2010
House Passes National Alzheimer’s Project Act Cosponsored by Rahall
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, D.C. (HNN) – U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Wednesday supported House passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, a bill requiring a national strategy to find a cure for and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is an effort to marshal the resources of the Federal government to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, and to ensure treatment and care for those who suffer from it,” said Rahall, a cosponsor of the legislation. “Alzheimer’s affects seniors throughout Southern West Virginia, along with their families and friends who often act as caretakers.”
There are currently over 44,000 Alzheimer’s patients in West Virginia, and this number is expected to keep growing. Over 93,000 health care providers work with Alzheimer’s patients in the state. Alzheimer’s is one of only a few fatal diseases in the United States that remains without effective therapies, treatments, or preventative strategies.
Currently, spending by Medicare and Medicaid to care for those with Alzheimer’s has reached $122 billion, and that figure is expected to increase to $805 billion by 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that a treatment that delays the onset of Alzheimer’s for five years, similar to the effect of drugs that regulate cholesterol in preventing heart disease, would save Medicare and Medicaid $362 billion in 2050. Additionally, developing a treatment that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s would save Medicare and Medicaid $180 billion in 2050.
“I cosponsored this legislation because I believe it will help to improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of West Virginians and their families and friends. It is a key component of my overall strategy for increasing access to affordable health care for West Virginians,” said Rahall.
The National Alzheimer’s Project Act was passed in the House today by a voice vote. The bill now moves to the White House to be signed into law.
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House Passes National Alzheimer’s Project Act Cosponsored by Rahall
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, D.C. (HNN) – U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Wednesday supported House passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, a bill requiring a national strategy to find a cure for and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is an effort to marshal the resources of the Federal government to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, and to ensure treatment and care for those who suffer from it,” said Rahall, a cosponsor of the legislation. “Alzheimer’s affects seniors throughout Southern West Virginia, along with their families and friends who often act as caretakers.”
There are currently over 44,000 Alzheimer’s patients in West Virginia, and this number is expected to keep growing. Over 93,000 health care providers work with Alzheimer’s patients in the state. Alzheimer’s is one of only a few fatal diseases in the United States that remains without effective therapies, treatments, or preventative strategies.
Currently, spending by Medicare and Medicaid to care for those with Alzheimer’s has reached $122 billion, and that figure is expected to increase to $805 billion by 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that a treatment that delays the onset of Alzheimer’s for five years, similar to the effect of drugs that regulate cholesterol in preventing heart disease, would save Medicare and Medicaid $362 billion in 2050. Additionally, developing a treatment that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s would save Medicare and Medicaid $180 billion in 2050.
“I cosponsored this legislation because I believe it will help to improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of West Virginians and their families and friends. It is a key component of my overall strategy for increasing access to affordable health care for West Virginians,” said Rahall.
The National Alzheimer’s Project Act was passed in the House today by a voice vote. The bill now moves to the White House to be signed into law.
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