What They are Saying – The Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act
PFCD
Jul 13
5 min read
Updated: Oct 8
The Alzheimer’s field is entering a new era. New, blood biomarker tests represent a major advancement as a diagnostic tool and could soon be used as a more readily accessible screening tool to identify key indicators of early Alzheimer’s.
The science is ready. The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening & Prevention (ASAP) Act would ensure Medicare coverage keeps pace and momentum is building in Congress to pass this legislation. The following is a compilation of what policymakers, advocates, and experts across the country are saying about the bill.
Policymakers
"Our goal is simple: catch the disease early…treat it sooner and give families more time with their loved ones. And that’s critical. To do that, Medicare must keep pace with what’s going on with technology today….For too long, Alzheimer's has taken too much from our families. Now we have an opportunity to change that based on the new technologies. With over two hundred bipartisan cosponsors and support from five hundred twenty-five organizations, my legislation shows strong bipartisan backing and significant momentum towards addressing a shared national priority."
– Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Lead sponsor of the ASAP Act
“The bipartisan ASAP Act expands access to early detection and gives individuals and their families more time to plan, to start treatment, and seek support when it matters most. And my hope is that we can get this legislation across the finish line ASAP.”
– Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lead co-sponsor of the ASAP Act
"The legislation reflects principles that both parties can get behind. It encourages prevention, innovation, patient choice and fiscal responsibility — values Republicans have long championed. By increasing access to quality medical care, the ASAP Act advances a more equitable healthcare system where a person’s ability to benefit from the latest innovation isn’t determined by their income status or where they live — a key priority for Democrats."
– Reps. Buchanan & Tonko, Joint op-ed in The Hill
"By 2050, the number of Alzheimer's diagnoses is projected to rise to nearly 13 million. Two thirds of Americans currently living with Alzheimer's disease are women… The earlier that we can detect any sort of dementia or decline in cognitive reasoning, the earlier that families and their providers can determine an appropriate care plan and start to put that into place."
"Today, Alzheimer's and other dementias are under-detected in the primary care setting about fifty percent of the time. Yet we know that every sixty-five seconds someone develops Alzheimer's, which is why we must equip our providers with robust resources to detect this disease faster."
"Far too often, once a patient is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it's already too advanced for existing treatments to slow the progression. Incredible innovation by American biotech companies has led to the development of new medical tests and treatment options, giving much-needed hope to both individuals with Alzheimer's and their loved ones….The development of new diagnostic technology allows for earlier detection of Alzheimer's, and seniors on Medicare should have access to it.”
"I lost my father to …Alzheimer’s a little more than three years ago. I know it affects all of our families….With the ability to do a blood test, that would have given us a better confirmation. This is something that I think affects so many families across our country and we should all support.”
"This bill… gives CMS the authority to cover Alzheimer's tests based on CMS's existing evidence-based framework… We owe that to America's seniors."
“The path forward starts with concrete action on Alzheimer’s now. Congress should pass the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act of 2025 (the ASAP Act) to require Medicare coverage of tau protein blood tests, allowing millions of Americans to detect the disease before they notice symptoms.”
—Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
“His [Rep. Vern Buchanan] bipartisan ASAP Act would create a pathway for Medicare to cover FDA-cleared blood tests that screen for Alzheimer’s, helping patients detect the disease in its earliest stages.”
— David Mansdoerfer, Former HHS Official
Advocates & Experts
“Early detection of Alzheimer’s sits at the intersection of affordability, prevention and a more modern vision of aging. It reflects a broader shift in health care, from reacting to late-stage disease to acting earlier, when intervention can have greater impact.”
— Candace DeMatteis, Vice President of Policy, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
"Currently, new screening tools must go through a time-consuming and bureaucratic process before Medicare is able to cover them, even after those tools are cleared by the FDA. This process can take years — sometimes as long as a decade. All the while, they remain out of reach for millions of patients."
— Mark Glickman, President and CEO, BioFlorida
“…the United States should expand access to blood-based diagnostic testing, empower primary-care physicians to identify cognitive decline earlier, and ensure patients who qualify for Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments can access them without unnecessary delays.”
—Aiden Buzzetti, President, Bull Moose Project
"Right now, we are urging Congress to pass the Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act – bipartisan legislation that would fund Medicare to cover a simple Alzheimer’s blood test that could have given Kim and me answers sooner. Preventative care shouldn’t be a privilege reserved just for those who can afford it; it should be the standard we build our healthcare system around."
– Robert Reid, Alzheimer's advocate and AlzinColor Community Advisory Board member
“While researchers, drugmakers, and doctors are doing their part to better understand this disease, improve the ability to live with it, and ultimately eliminate it, neither the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nor insurance companies should stand in the way of the availability of new therapies.”
“Blood-based biomarker screening has the potential to be a game-changer for earlier diagnosis, including in rural areas, which could open the door to better access to treatment and care... That is why one of the association’s top legislative priorities in Congress is the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act to help ensure that all older adults have access to screening once the tests are approved.”
— Matthew Baumgart, the Alzheimer’s Association’s senior vice president of health policy quoted by Leonard Robinson, Columnist, TheDerrick
“Diagnosis opens the door to hope, whether that leads you to treatment, planning, or investing more deeply in those you love. Do not despair: you deserve to get informed early and decide what your future looks like.”
— Kathi Rigby, Alzheimer’s advocate and patient
“The ASAP Act is one lever that policymakers can pull…. Polling in competitive congressional districts shows overwhelming bipartisan support for action: 80% of voters say that prevention and early detection could save Medicare billions, and more than 9 in 10 support making it easier for doctors to prescribe FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments..”
— Charles Sauer, President, Market Institute
“It’s clear that earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and related conditions can positively change the path forward for individuals and their families. Early diagnosis begins with recognition and conversation. Black Americans must feel empowered to recognize changes in memory and thinking, and to speak openly with loved ones and healthcare providers about what they’re experiencing.”
—Horace Cooper, Senior Fellow, National Center for Public Policy Research
“These tests should be accessible and covered, not limited to academic centers or those who can afford to pay out of pocket.”
— Dr. Brent Beasley, retired physician and Alzheimer’s patient
“For Black families, the stakes are high. We are twice as likely as white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions, yet we face more barriers to receiving clear information and care that addresses our needs. As my diagnostic experience illustrates, many of us are told that memory changes are normal aging and that pushing for answers is unnecessary. On the contrary, asking for answers is responsible and empowers us to live the healthiest life possible.”
— Shon Lowe, Patient advocate and Caregiver
Learn more about blood tests and the policy changes needed to support access by checking out our guide: Understanding Alzheimer's Blood Tests