Question:
A report issued by the Alzheimer's Association urges the federalgovernment to spend more on Alzheimer's research lest the diseasebankrupt state and federal health programs.

Medicare costs will increase 54% by 2010 due to a predicted increase inthe number of people with the disease. Medicare is predicted toincrease payments for treating people with Alzheimer's from $31.9billion last year to $49.3 billion in 2010. Medicaid payments fornursing home care are predicted to increase from $18.2 billion in 2000to $33 billion in 2010.

According to the association, the number of people with Alzheimer's willincrease from 4 million to 5.5 million from 2001 to 2010.

The National Institute of Health spends $515 million on research,according to the association. Desired is $200 million more during thenext fiscal year for several investigative treatment trials. It seeksto have the government eventually spend $1 billion a year on research.

What's your opinions???

Answer: This approach to getting research dollars makes me angry, since MEDICAREpays NOTHING for Alzheimer disease. There is no way it could bankruptMedicare.Alzheimer care is classified as custodial and not skilled and Medicareonly covers skilled care. Ido think it takes MUCH skill to care for anAlzheimer patient.We need research dollars but we also need for this disease to be coveredby Medicare and insurance companys as a covered illness needing skilledcare.MEDICAID does cover NH care after a family is impoverished. If Medicareand insurance would pick up some of these expenses, the family would notneed to be impoverished.Yes, I do agree we need to go forward full throttle on research, butthey should not put this false scare tactic about Medicare out there.MEDICARE DOES NOT PAY ALZHEIMER DISEASE EXPENSES! I have not receivedone penny from them for any medical service related to AD. My LO is inlate stage 6.