HR 1560 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Public Health Service Act to fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 19, 2007

Mr. MARKEY (for himself and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Public Health Service Act to fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Alzheimer's disease is a disorder that destroys cells in the brain. The disease is the leading cause of dementia, a condition that involves gradual memory loss, decline in the ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty in learning, loss of language skills, impairment of judgment, and personality changes. As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's disease become unable to care for themselves. The loss of brain cells eventually leads to the failure of other systems in the body.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) An estimated 4,500,000 Americans have Alzheimer's disease and 1 in 10 individuals have a family member with the disease. By 2050, the number of individuals with the disease could range from 13,000,000 to 16,000,000 unless science finds a way to prevent or cure the disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) One in 10 people over the age of 65, and nearly half of those over the age of 85 have Alzheimer's disease. Younger people also get the disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The Alzheimer's disease process may begin in the brain as many as 20 years before the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear. An individual will live an average of 8 years and as many as 20 once the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The average lifetime cost of care for an individual with Alzheimer's disease is $170,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) In 2005, Medicare alone spent $91,000,000,000 for the care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and this amount is projected to increase to $160,000,000,000 in 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Ninety-five percent of Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease have one or more other chronic conditions that are common in the elderly, coronary heart disease (30 percent), congestive heart failure (28 percent), diabetes (21 percent), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17 percent).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Seven in 10 individuals with Alzheimer's disease live at home. While almost 75 percent of home care is provided by family and friends, the average annual cost of paid care for people with Alzheimer's disease at home is $19,000 per year. Almost all families pay this cost out of pocket.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Half of all nursing home residents have Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The average annual cost of Alzheimer's disease nursing home care is more than $70,000. Medicaid pays half of the total nursing home bill and helps 2 out of 3 residents pay for their care. Medicaid expenditures for nursing home care for people with Alzheimer's disease are estimated to increase from $21,000,000,000 in 2005 to $24,000,000,000 in 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) In fiscal year 2007, the Federal Government will spend an estimated $642,000,000 on Alzheimer's disease research. If the United States achieves its research goals (preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease in those at risk and treating and delaying progression of the disease in those who have symptoms), annual Medicare savings would be $51,000,000,000 by 2015 and $88,000,000,000 by 2020. Annual Medicaid savings would be $10,000,000,000 in 2015 and $17,000,000,000 by 2020 and the projected number of cases of Alzheimer's disease can be reduced by 40 percent by the middle of the century.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) An analysis by the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine estimated that the annual value of the informal care system is $306,000,000,000. Family caregiving comes at enormous physical, emotional, and financial sacrifice, putting the whole system at risk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) One in 8 Alzheimer's disease caregivers becomes ill or injured as a direct result of caregiving. One in 3 uses medication for problems related to caregiving. Older caregivers are 3 times more likely to become clinically depressed than others in their age group.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) Elderly spouses strained by caregiving are 63 percent more likely to die during a given 4-year period than other spouses their age.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) Almost 3 of 4 caregivers are women. One in 3 has children or grandchildren under the age of 18 living at home. Caregiving leaves them less time for other family members and they are much more likely to report family conflicts because of their caregiving role.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Most Alzheimer's disease caregivers work outside the home before beginning their caregiving careers, but caregiving forces them to miss work, cut back to part-time, take less demanding jobs, choose early retirement, or give up work altogether. As a result, in 2002, Alzheimer's disease cost American business an estimated $36,500,000,000 in lost productivity, as well as an additional $24,600,000,000 in business contributions to the total cost of care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--INCREASING THE FEDERAL COMMITMENT TO ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH

SEC. 101. DOUBLING NIH FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH.

For the purpose of conducting and supporting research on Alzheimer's disease (including related activities under subpart 5 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e et seq.)), there are authorized to be appropriated $1,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. PRIORITY TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH.

Section 443 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking `The general' and inserting `(a) In General- The general'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Priorities- The Director of the Institute shall, in expending amounts appropriated to carry out this subpart, give priority to conducting and supporting Alzheimer's disease research.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PREVENTION INITIATIVE.

Section 443 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e), as amended by section 102, is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Prevention Trials- The Director of the Institute shall increase the emphasis on the need to conduct Alzheimer's disease prevention trials within the National Institutes of Health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Neuroscience Initiative- The Director of the Institute shall ensure that Alzheimer's disease is maintained as a high priority for the existing neuroscience initiative.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CLINICAL RESEARCH.

(a) Clinical Research- Subpart 5 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 445J. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CLINICAL RESEARCH.

`(a) In General- The Director of the Institute, pursuant to section 444(d), shall conduct and support cooperative clinical research regarding Alzheimer's disease. Such research shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) investigating therapies, interventions, and agents to detect, treat, slow the progression of, or prevent Alzheimer's disease;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) enhancing the national infrastructure for the conduct of clinical trials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) developing and testing novel approaches to the design and analysis of such trials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) facilitating the enrollment of patients for such trials, including patients from diverse populations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) developing improved diagnostics and means of patient assessment for Alzheimer's disease;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) the conduct of clinical trials on potential therapies, including readily available compounds such as herbal remedies and other alternative treatments;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) research to develop better methods of early diagnosis, including the use of current imaging techniques; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) other research as determined appropriate by the Director of the Institute, the Alzheimer's Disease Centers and Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers established under section 445.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Early Diagnosis and Detection Research-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- The Director of the Institute, in consultation with the directors of other relevant institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health, shall conduct, or make grants for the conduct of, research related to the early detection, diagnosis, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and of mild cognitive impairment or other potential precursors to Alzheimer's disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) EVALUATION- The research described in paragraph (1) may include the evaluation of diagnostic tests and imaging techniques.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) STUDY- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Director of the Institute, in cooperation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall conduct a study, and submit to Congress a report, to estimate the number of individuals with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (those diagnosed before the age of 65) and related dementias in the United States, the causes of early-onset dementia, and the unique problems faced by such individuals, including problems accessing government services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Vascular Disease- The Director of the Institute, in consultation with the directors of other relevant institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health, shall conduct, or make grants for the conduct of, research related to the relationship of vascular disease and Alzheimer's disease, including clinical trials to determine whether drugs developed to prevent cerebrovascular disease can prevent the onset or progression of Alzheimer's disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Treatments and Prevention- The Director of the Institute shall place special emphasis on expediting the translation of research findings under this section into effective treatments and prevention strategies for at-risk individuals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center- The Director of the Institute may establish a National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center to facilitate collaborative research among the Alzheimer's Disease Centers and Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers established under section 445.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Alzheimer's Disease Centers- Section 445(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e-2(a)(1)) is amended by inserting `, and outcome measures and disease management,' after `treatment methods'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. RESEARCH ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CAREGIVING.

Section 445C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e-5) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking `Sec. 445C. (a)' and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 445C. RESEARCH ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SERVICES AND CAREGIVING.

`(a) Services Research- ';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking subsections (b), (c), and (e);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Interventions Research- The Director shall, in collaboration with the directors of the other relevant institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health, conduct, or make grants for the conduct of, clinical, social, and behavioral research related to interventions designed to help caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and improve patient outcomes.'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in subsection (d) by striking `(d) the Director' and inserting `(c) Model Curricula and Techniques- The Director'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. NATIONAL SUMMIT ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

(a) In General- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the `Secretary') shall convene a summit of researchers, representatives of academic institutions, Federal and State policymakers, public health professionals, and representatives of voluntary health agencies to provide a detailed overview of current research activities at the National Institutes of Health, as well as to discuss and solicit input related to potential areas of collaboration between the National Institutes of Health and other Federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration on Aging, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, related to research, prevention, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Focus Areas- The summit convened under subsection (a) shall focus on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) a broad range of Alzheimer's disease research activities relating to biomedical research, prevention research, and caregiving issues;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) clinical research for the development and evaluation of new treatments for the disease;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) translational research on evidence-based and cost-effective best practices in the treatment and prevention of the disease;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) information and education programs for health care professionals and the public relating to the disease;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) priorities among the programs and activities of the various Federal agencies regarding such diseases; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) challenges and opportunities for scientists, clinicians, patients, and voluntary organizations relating to the disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report- Not later than 180 days after the date on which the National Summit on Alzheimer's Disease is convened under subsection (a), the Director of National Institutes of Health shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes a summary of the proceedings of the summit and a description of Alzheimer's research, education, and other activities that are conducted or supported through the national research institutes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Public Information- The Secretary shall make readily available to the public information about the research, education, and other activities relating to Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias, conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--PUBLIC HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

SEC. 201. ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO COGNITIVE HEALTH, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, AND OTHER DEMENTIA'S.

Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 399R. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

`(a) In General- The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall directly or through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to eligible entities, conduct, support, and promote the coordination of research, investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of the risk factors associated with cognitive health, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias, and seek early recognition and intervention in the course of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Certain Activities- Activities under subsection (a) shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) providing support for the dissemination and implementation of the Roadmap to Maintaining Cognitive Health to effectively mobilize the public health community into action;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the development of coordinated public education programs, services, and demonstrations which are designed to increase general awareness of cognitive function and promote a brain healthy lifestyle;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) the development of targeted communication strategies and tools to educate health professionals and service providers about the early recognition, diagnosis, care, and management of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and to provide consumers with information about interventions, products, and services that promote cognitive health and assist consumers in maintaining current understanding about cognitive health based on the best science available; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) provide support for the collection, publication, and analysis of data on the prevalence and incidence of cognitive health, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias, and the evaluation of existing population-based surveillance systems (such as the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey (BRFFS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)) to identify limitations that exist in the area of cognitive health, and if necessary, the development of a surveillance system for cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Grants- The Secretary may award grants under this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to State and local health agencies for the purpose of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) coordinating activities related to cognitive health, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias with existing State-based health programs and community-based organizations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) providing Alzheimer's disease education and training opportunities and programs for health professionals; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) developing, testing, evaluating, and replicating effective Alzheimer's disease intervention programs to maintain or improve cognitive health; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) to nonprofit private health organizations with expertise in providing care and services to individuals with Alzheimer's disease for the purpose of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) disseminating information to the public;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) testing model intervention programs to improve cognitive health; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) coordinating existing services with State-based health programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Authorization of Appropriations- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--ASSISTANCE FOR CAREGIVERS

SEC. 301. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CALL CENTER.

Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.), as amended by section 201, is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 399S. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CALL CENTER.

`(a) In General- The Secretary, acting through the Administration on Aging, shall award a cooperative grant to a non-profit or community-based organization to support the establishment and operation of an Alzheimer's Call Center that is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide expert advice, care consultation, information, and referrals nationwide at the national and local level regarding Alzheimer's disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Activities- The Alzheimer's Call Center established under subsection (a) shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) collaborate with the Administration on Aging in the development, modification, and execution of the Call Center's work plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) assist the Administration on Aging in developing and sustaining collaborations between the Alzheimer's Call Center, the Eldercare Locator, the grantees under the Alzheimer's Demonstration Program, and the Aging Network;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) provide a 24-hour a day, 7-days a week toll-free Call Center with trained professional staff who are available to provide care consultation and crisis intervention to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, their family and informal caregivers, and others as appropriate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) be accessible by telephone through a single 1-800 telephone number, website, and e-mail address; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) evaluate the impact of the Call Center's activities and services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Multilingual Capacity- The Call Center established under this section shall have a multilingual capacity and shall respond to inquiries in at least 140 languages through its own bilingual staff and with the use of a language translation service.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Response to Emergency and Ongoing Needs- The Call Center established under this section shall collaborate with community-based organizations, including non-profit agencies and organizations, to ensure local, on-the-ground capacity to respond to emergency and on-going needs of Alzheimer's patients, their families, and informal caregivers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Authorization of Appropriations- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 302. INNOVATIVE ALZHEIMER'S CARE STATE MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Authorization of Appropriations- Section 398B(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280c-5(e)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking `and such' and inserting `such'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting before the period the following: `, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Program Expansion- Section 398(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280c-3(a))CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting after `other respite care' the following: `and care consultation including assessment of needs, assistance with planning and problem solving and providing supportive listening';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (3), by striking `; and' and inserting the following: `, and individuals in frontier areas (as defined as areas with 6 or fewer people per square mile or areas in which it takes people at least 60 minutes or 60 miles to reach a market or service area);';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) to encourage grantees under this section to coordinate activities with other State officials administering efforts to promote long-term care options that enable older individuals to receive long-term care in home- and community-based settings, in a manner responsive to the needs and preferences of older individuals and their family caregivers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) to encourage grantees under this section to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) engage in activities that support early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) provide training to medical personnel including hospital staff, emergency room personnel, home health care workers and physician office staff, rehabilitation services providers, and caregivers about how Alzheimer's can affect behavior and impede communication in medical and community settings;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) develop guidelines to provide the medical community with up-to-date information about the best methods of care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) inform community physicians about available resources to assist them in detecting and managing Alzheimer's; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) raise awareness among community physicians about the availability of community-based organizations which can assist individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) to encourage grantees under this section to engage in activities that use findings from evidence-based research on service models and techniques to support individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) to encourage grantees under this section to incorporate best practices for effectively serving individuals with Alzheimer's disease in community-based settings into ongoing State systems change and long-term care activities.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink