Patients’ groups, progressives square off over Medicare Alzheimer’s decision

Alzheimer's disease
PET scan of a human brain with Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: public domain

Advocates on both sides of a debate over dramatically restricting Medicare’s coverage of an expensive and controversial Alzheimer’s treatment are waging competing campaigns to influence a final decision in April.

The dispute also raises larger questions about whether lawmakers and regulators will revisit the fast-track pathway the drug was approved under, with the issue even entangling Robert Califf’s embattled nomination to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

In January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed restricting coverage of Aduhelm—a new monoclonal antibody…

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