Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct an outreach campaign to educate clinicians, Medicare beneficiaries with cognitive impairment, and their families on the assessment and care planning services currently available to them. 
“As you know, more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and, without significant action, nearly 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by 2050. Caring for those with Alzheimer’s will cost an estimated $290 billion in 2019, with Medicare and Medicaid bearing $195 billion–67 percent–of that figure. As the research community continues to search for a disease modifying therapy and better symptomatic treatments, CMS must do all it can to ensure the best quality of care and quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s. Care planning is central to that effort,” the Senators wrote.
“Your leadership is critical to ensuring seniors living with cognitive impairment, including those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, have access to comprehensive care planning services,” the Senators continued.
Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Martha McSally (R-AZ), John Boozman (R-AR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Doug Jones (D-AL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tim Scott (R-SC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also signed the letter to Administrator Verma.