Letter to the editor: Access to promising Alzheimer's drug hampered

On Jan. 6, the Food and Drug Administration approved a second drug (Leqembi) to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on results from very strong clinical trials, leading Alzheimer’s researchers agree this treatment slows progression of the disease and contributes to a better quality of life. Currently in Pennsylvania, 9.6% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.

However, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services limits coverage by Medicare to those participating in clinical trials only and prevents access for millions of people desperate for treatment. Never before has CMS imposed such drastic barriers to access FDA-approved drugs, especially for people facing a fatal disease. Every FDA-approved drug is covered by Medicare, except for those that address Alzheimer’s disease. The CMS policy is unjustified, harmful and unfair.

As an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, having lost my wife to Alzheimer’s disease in 2015, I am urging Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. John Joyce to lift up their voices and ask CMS to allow Medicare to fully allow coverage of Leqembi for all Pennsylvania residents fighting Alzheimer’s disease.

Mike Stanford

East Berlin