Alzheimer's Blogging:

Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the


Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act



Help us in the fight to accelerate critical Alzheimer's research. The Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=mmKXLbP8E&b=6550687&tr=y&auid=9719075  (H.R. 1897) would ensure that the federal government makes a commitment to finding treatments to prevent, cure, or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We need your VOICE as we ask Congress to make research a priority. Please take two minutes and ask your Representative   http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=mmKXLbP8E&b=7516993&auid=9719057   to join the 65 current cosponsors of the Act in the House of Representatives in supporting this important legislation.



SAVE THE DATE

Lend your VOICE in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and attend the 2012 Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum, April 23-25 in Washington, DC. To see highlights from the 2011 Advocacy Forum, please visit www.alz.org/forum. http://www.alz.org/forum/



National Alzheimer's Advisory Council Holds Inaugural Meeting

The Alzheimer's Advisory Council, created by the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), http://napa.alz.org/   held its first meeting on September 27. Council members, including Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns, heard presentations from agency officials about the federal government's current initiatives focused on Alzheimer's research, clinical care services, and long term care services and support. Advisory Council members also discussed how they will provide recommendations on the National Alzheimer's Plan to the government. A draft of the National Alzheimer's Plan is being prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services, and will be considered by the Council in early 2012.



New Congressional Scorecard Posted by the Alzheimer's Impact Movement

The Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM),  http://www.alzimpact.org/?tr=y&auid=9719093  strategic partner of the Alzheimer's Association, has posted a new Congressional Scorecard on AIM's website. AIM endorses and supports the federal priorities of the Alzheimer's Association, and the Congressional Scorecard is a helpful advocacy tool for tracking progress and support for the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act and the HOPE for Alzheimer's Act. This new scorecard features an interactive map that makes it easy for you to look up whether your members of Congress are cosponsors of priority Alzheimer's legislation. Learn more at http://www.alzimpact.org/.



Medicare Annual Enrollment: October 15-December 7, 2011

This year, the annual open enrollment period for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage begins October 15 and ends December 7. Please note that the enrollment closing date is earlier than in previous years. Plans are already sending materials to beneficiaries, and plan information for 2012 is also posted on http://www.medicare.gov/. The Alzheimer's Association's annual chart of coverage of Alzheimer's drugs http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_drug_coverage.asp?tr=y&auid=9719157#planD   by national prescription drug plans is now available to help you in this process as well. If a certain drug is not on the plan formulary, the individual can file an "Exception" request with the plan and request that the drug be covered.



Update on Federal Government Funding

Congress continues to work on the federal funding bills for fiscal year 2012. While it's a tough economic climate, the House of Representatives has provided a $1 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in its draft bill. The Association will continue to advocate for and monitor the additional funding provided for agencies and programs important to our community, including funding for NIH and the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Alzheimer's Research Program.



Robert Egge

Vice President, Public Policy

Alzheimer's Association

Thank you  for letting me share this letter I received.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319058966&sr=1-1