Gingrich Urges Medicare to Cover 7.2 Million Americans' Alzheimer’s Tests, Back ASAP Act
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 21
Gingrich Urges Medicare to Cover 7.2 Million Americans' Alzheimer’s Tests, Back ASAP Act
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 21
Newt Gingrich called on Congress to pass the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act of 2025 and pressed Medicare to broaden coverage for blood tests and FDA-approved therapies.
Medicare now covers tau-protein blood tests only after symptoms are reported, while some infusion treatments require doctors to join a Medicare-approved registry that many providers—especially in rural areas—cannot manage.
Gingrich argued those limits block early detection of amyloid and tau markers, causing patients to miss therapies that could slow progression and delay institutional care, saving families tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
7.2 million Americans age 65 and older already live with Alzheimer’s-related dementia, and the Alzheimer’s Association projects that total could nearly double to 13.8 million by 2060 without major treatment advances.
A May 19 poll showed strong support for the ASAP Act and wider access to new Alzheimer’s treatments, which Gingrich framed as a broader shift toward prevention-focused healthcare.
New drugs can slow Alzheimer's decline. But will high costs and complex Medicare rules deny access to millions of eligible patients?
Science can now detect Alzheimer's years before symptoms. Why does our healthcare system still force patients to wait for memory loss?
Early Alzheimer’s Detection at a Crossroads: The Promise and Policy of Blood-Based Biomarker Screening and the ASAP Act
Overview
The report highlights the growing momentum for early Alzheimer's detection, focusing on the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act as a key legislative initiative. The ASAP Act aims to make early detection and intervention possible for millions of Americans, representing an important step in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Advocates like Newt Gingrich are pushing for these healthcare reforms, while also acknowledging industry connections. The report emphasizes that the ASAP Act is positioned as a critical measure to advance early detection, reflecting a pivotal moment in Alzheimer’s care policy and the broader effort to improve outcomes for patients.