ASAP Act
Congress seeks Medicare coverage for FDA-reviewed blood tests that screen for Alzheimer’s early, starting in 2028
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Congress would add Medicare coverage for certain tests that can spot Alzheimer’s and related dementias early, even before symptoms.
- The covered tests must be cleared or approved by the FDA, so Medicare would not pay for unreviewed tests.
- Coverage would start for tests given on or after January 1, 2028.
- The bill focuses on blood-based testing and also allows similar tests (including some imaging or other sample types) if federal health officials decide they give comparable results.
- If passed, this could make it easier for Medicare patients to access early screening without paying the full cost out of pocket.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8278-8279)
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Senate Moves to Break Barriers to Alzheimer’s Detection Tools
Advocacy group reaction to the introduction of the ASAP Act, describing how it would create a Medicare pathway for FDA-cleared/approved blood-based dementia screening tests.
Senate Moves to Break Barriers to Detection Tools
AIM statement applauding the bipartisan introduction of the ASAP Act and emphasizing Medicare coverage pathways for FDA-reviewed blood biomarker screening tests.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
ASAP Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(18)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.