Current advocacy items
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January 17, 2012: U.S. launches national war on Alzheimer's
The No. 1 goal stated in the early draft of the National Alzheimer's Project Act is to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's by 2025. Although the funding levels have not been determined, disease experts compare the multi-agency federal approach of NAPA to the wars on heart disease and cancer.
The government spent about $500 million in 2011 on research for Alzheimer's and related dementias. By comparison, approximately $521 million was spent on complementary and alternative medicine and $823 million on obesity. Cancer drew a $6 billion check in 2011 for starters, with additional funding allocated for breast, brain and lung cancers. Experts have spent a year formulating the framework for the plan, and the final draft is due on the desk of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this month or early February.
Open letter to Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance, along with the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin, American Liver Foundation – Great Lakes Chapter, National Lung Cancer Partnership and The Epilepsy Foundation Southern Wisconsin, is encouraging the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation to oppose any cuts to Medicare and the Part D program as Congress and the Congressional “Super Committee” debate spending cuts.
>>Open letter to the delegation 
November 8, 2011: Rob Gundermann presents award to Ron Kind
Rob Gundermann, Public Policy Director with the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance, presented the "Stand Up for America's Seniors" award by Retire Safe to Congressman Ron Kind. Kind is just one of three people in the state receiving this award.
October 2011 from the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
What Is the Long-term Care Enrollment Cap and How Do People Get Service Today?
This "citizens information guide" is about the Long-Term Care Enrollment Caps that the Walker administration placed on Family Care when the State Budget was passed last June.
Advocacy update September 2011 (topics below)
FEDERAL ISSUES
- Update on our Congressional meetings and how you can impact the National Alzheimer's Plan
STATE ISSUES
- Alzheimer's Alliance forms new prescription drug coalition to address barriers to prescription drug access
- Prescription drug forum November 3 with experts on the new Alzheimer's medications in trials
- Oral chemotherapy drug bill introduced in State Legislature
- Wisconsin healthcare story project
- State Alzheimer's plan, "A Hand in the Plan" survey
- Targeted tax credit for family caregivers
- The Wisconsin Campaign for better care
- Appeals court ruling on Chapter 51 of the Wisconsin Statutes (mental health) and Alzheimer's placements
Changes to Medicare Part D will hurt seniors 8/23/11
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Rob Gundermann, Public Policy Director for the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance, shares an opinion piece saying, "...Medicare Part D already works. But it can only continue to do so if Congress lets it."
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