Alzheimer's Disease Programs Fared Well in Final Federal Budget; Alzheimer's Association Sees Victories as Good Starting Point for New Administration.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2000

Alzheimer's disease programs and research fared well in the federal budget process according to the Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles after a review of the budget passed by Congress last Friday (Dec. 15).

"We believe the budget is a bipartisan recognition of the significant impact Alzheimer's disease plays on families," said Peter Braun, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles. "This legislation will provide important building blocks for the new administration in its ability to tackle the growing threat the disease will cause our nation's health care system."

Key Legislative Victories

"Homebound" Definition will Allow for Day Care

A provision to clarify the Medicare "homebound" definition to allow beneficiaries to attend adult day care was included in the final budget bill. This provision change was one of the Alzheimer's Association's top legislative priorities. Research has found that adult day care is a successful therapeutic treatment for persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

In the past, Medicare rules dictated that in order for a beneficiary to be eligible for home health benefits, they must require skilled nursing care and be declared "homebound" (i.e., the beneficiary can only leave the home infrequently and with great assistance from another individual). Under the old rules, a beneficiary with Alzheimer's disease who left home to attend adult day care failed to meet the "homebound" test and was denied the home health benefits to which they are otherwise entitled.

Alzheimer's Research/ AoA Alzheimer's Demonstration Grants Increased

The Labor/HHS Appropriations bill included a 14 percent increase in funding for Alzheimer's research. This will bring federal spending on Alzheimer's research to more than $500 million in FY 2001.

In addition, the bill contained $9 million for the Alzheimer's demonstration grants at the Administration on Aging (AoA). This is a 50 percent increase over previous years' funding and will allow expansion of this program to additional states. The Alzheimer's demonstration grants are provided to states to develop innovative services targeting people with Alzheimer's.

Family Caregiver Support Programs Come on Line

The Caregiver Support Program, newly established by the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, received full funding at $125 million. This new program will provide money for a number of community-based programs including respite care, adult day care, counseling services and caregiver training.

Safe Return Funded

The budget contained $900,000 in funding for the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return Program. Safe Return is a nationwide identification program that assists in the safe return of individuals with Alzheimer's or related dementia who wander and become lost.

The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its national network of chapters, it offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families, and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer's-related issues before federal, state, and local government and with health and long-term care providers. The largest private funder of Alzheimer's research, the Association has committed more than $100 million toward research into the causes, treatment, prevention, and cure of Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles serves more than 150,000 people with Alzheimer's disease and their families by providing a variety of programs and services. Information regarding the Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles and available services can be obtained by calling 800/660-1993; Spanish Helpline 800/633-5767; or by visiting the Web site at www.alzla.org.