What They are Saying – The Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act

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. With bipartisan support growing and Advocates and experts across the country are calling on Congress to take action to pass this important legislation:

“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

“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

“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.”

 — Moms for America Action

“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 

“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

“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