The  fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending bill includes a $300 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $15 million to fund and implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406), and advances the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 880/H.R. 1873).

This research funding increase was advocated for by the Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) and its nationwide network of dedicated advocates. Spearheaded by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the action demonstrates policymakers’ renewed commitment to advance Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

In addition to enabling new research into Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, the omnibus spending package includes $15 million to fund the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act. Passed overwhelmingly in December 2018, the law directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen the public health infrastructure across the country by implementing effective Alzheimer’s interventions focused on public health issues such as increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing avoidable hospitalizations.

Medicare has covered care planning for individuals with cognitive impairment, including dementia, since January 2017. However, in the first year, fewer than 1% of seniors living with Alzheimer’s received the care planning benefit. The Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act will give clinicians the knowledge and tools to better help people living with dementia and their families.

In addition to educating clinicians on care planning services available under Medicare, this act requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report on the barriers to individuals receiving care planning services and how the rate of usage can be increased.

The bipartisan Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act was introduced by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Reps. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.). Since its introduction, AIM advocates grew support for the bill resulting in nearly half of the Senate and over 200 members in the House having cosponsored the legislation.

This announcement is modified from the Alzheimer’s Association press release on December 21, 2020. Read their full release at this link.