Alliance Urges Enactment of ASAP Act to Make Alzheimer’s Blood Tests Attainable
Published September 15, 2026
The following is a statement from Scott Frey, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations of the Alliance for Aging Research, regarding impending movement on the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130) which aims to have Medicare cover the cost of FDA-approved blood-based biomarker tests that can detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages:
The Alliance for Aging Research urges the Ways and Means Committee to support enactment of the bi-partisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130) this year.
Until recently, a patient could not receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis without an expensive scan or invasive procedure. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared two blood-based biomarker (BBB) tests that require only a routine blood sample for use in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.
This is an important step forward in Alzheimer’s care, but it won’t mean much to patients unless they are given affordable access to these tests. Right now, federal law prohibits the Medicare program from covering BBB tests without a review from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) or an act of Congress. USPSTF is currently not fully constituted and is highly unlikely to take up this matter in the foreseeable future.
More than 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, and a recent report found that over 90% of Americans would want to use this kind of simple medical test to detect Alzheimer’s if it was available to them.
Earlier detection means more time for patients and families to educate themselves about the disease, weigh treatment options, and explore a plan that is best for their situation. With several treatment options available that can slow the progression of the disease if caught in the early stages, access to these tests will allow utilization of the science that will vastly improve lives for millions of families.
We’d appreciate the Chairman’s support for its inclusion in any health package to be considered this year, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss this further.
Learn more about the ASAP Act and the Alliance’s advocacy, including a summary and recording of a nationally-broadcasted online briefing on the topic.