作为来自国会不同党派的议员，我们在许多问题上意见并不一致。但阿尔茨海默病并不关心政治。它影响着美国每个州、每个国会选区以及每个社区的家庭。目前，超过700万人正与阿尔茨海默病共存——仅我们两个州就有超过100万人——而且预计在未来几十年内，这一数字将几乎翻倍。改变阿尔茨海默病在美国的发展轨迹并非一种奢侈，而是一项必要之举。
As members of Congress on opposite sides of the aisle, we don’t see eye-to-eye on everything. But Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t care about politics. It affects families in every state, congressional district and neighborhood across America. Over 7 million of us currently live with Alzheimer’s — more than 1 million in our two states alone — a number that is expected to nearly double in the decades ahead. Changing the trajectory of Alzheimer’s in America isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.
阿尔茨海默病可能在记忆丧失和其他症状显现前十年就已开始。早期发现对于帮助患者尽早接受治疗至关重要，因为此时治疗效果最佳。遗憾的是，许多患者往往在病情发展到无法通过治疗或其他健康干预措施有效应对的阶段才被诊断出来。
Alzheimer’s can start more than a decade before memory loss and other signs become evident. Early detection is critical to helping patients start Alzheimer’s treatment sooner, when it’s most effective. Sadly, many patients are diagnosed too late for treatment or other health interventions to help.
幸运的是，几十年来对研发领域的持续投入已经带来了科学突破，彻底改变了阿尔茨海默病的护理方式。长期以来，诊断阿尔茨海默病需要漫长的转诊流程以及侵入性且昂贵的检查手段。如今，简单的血液生物标志物检测能够比以往任何时候都更早、更便捷地识别出这种疾病。随着更多治疗方法的获批，这些进展有望彻底改变患者的护理方式。
Thankfully, decades of investment in research and development have led to scientific breakthroughs that are revolutionizing Alzheimer’s care. For too long, diagnosing Alzheimer’s required lengthy referrals and invasive, expensive procedures. Today, simple blood-based biomarker tests can help identify the disease earlier and more conveniently than ever. These developments have the potential to transform patient care, particularly with more treatments now approved.
然而，尽管取得了这些进步，保险覆盖政策却未能同步跟进。根据现行规定，只有国会明确授权或美国预防服务工作组推荐的预防性服务，才能获得“医疗补助计划”（Medicare）的覆盖。这一流程可能导致筛查检测在获得美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）批准后，仍需等待数年才能获得报销。
Yet despite these advances, coverage policies have not kept pace. Medicare can only cover preventive services that Congress has specifically authorized or that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This process can delay coverage for years after screening tests receive FDA clearance.
正因如此，我们联合提出了《ASAP法案》。这项跨党派、跨两院的立法授权卫生与公众服务部部长，为经FDA批准或认可的、用于早期发现阿尔茨海默病及其他痴呆症的血液生物标志物检测，开辟一条纳入“医疗补助计划”覆盖范围的路径。
That’s why we came together to introduce the ASAP Act. Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation authorizes the secretary of Health and Human Services to provide a pathway for Medicare coverage for FDA-approved or cleared blood-based biomarker tests for the early detection of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
扩大阿尔茨海默病筛查工具的普及范围，有助于人们在症状出现很久之前就了解自己患病的风险。这对于农村和医疗服务不足的社区的患者尤为关键，在这些地方，获得专科医生和先进诊断设施的机会可能有限，而简单的血液检测可以减轻他们长途跋涉就医的负担。
Broadening access to Alzheimer’s screening tools can help people understand their risk for the disease long before symptoms appear. This is especially key for patients in rural and underserved communities, where access to specialists and advanced diagnostic facilities can be limited and where a simple blood test could reduce the burden of traveling long distances for care.
早期发现阿尔茨海默病至关重要，因为它是管理成本最高的疾病之一。晚期护理通常需要大量的医疗服务和长期支持，给家庭和纳税人带来沉重的经济负担。它还可能给照顾者造成巨大的压力，随着亲人病情的恶尽，照顾者往往要承担多年的财务、情感和后勤方面的责任。更早的检测可以让家庭有更多的时间来规划、寻求治疗并为未来的挑战做好准备。
Catching Alzheimer’s early is critical because it is among the most expensive diseases to manage. Late-stage care often requires extensive medical services and long-term support, imposing significant costs to families and taxpayers alike. It can also place an enormous burden on caregivers, who often shoulder years of financial, emotional and logistical responsibilities as a loved one’s condition progresses. Earlier detection can give families more time to plan, pursue treatment and prepare for the challenges ahead.
随着我国人口老龄化，阿尔茨海默病的发病率将会上升。事实上，到2050年，美国用于治疗阿尔茨海默病和其他痴呆症的开支预计将超过1万亿美元。不采取行动的代价是极其高昂的。
As our country’s population ages, rates of Alzheimer’s will rise. In fact, the U.S. is on pace to spend more than $1 trillion treating Alzheimer’s and other dementias by 2050. The cost of inaction is exorbitant.
讨论联邦医疗保险（Medicare）是否应该承保新服务是合理的，但现代血液检测对纳税人来说比典型的正电子发射断层扫描（PET）要省钱得多。然而，尽管血液检测具有成本效益，但对普通患者来说，其费用仍然可能带来经济挑战。通过大幅减轻自付费用，ASAP法案有助于解决这一问题。
It’s fair to debate whether Medicare should cover new services, but modern blood tests are much softer on taxpayers than a typical PET scan. Yet despite their cost-effectiveness, blood tests can still be financially challenging for the average patient to obtain. By significantly easing out-of-pocket costs, the ASAP Act helps fix this problem.
该立法体现了两党都能支持的原则。它鼓励预防、创新、患者选择和财政责任——这些一直是共和党人倡导的价值观。通过增加获得优质医疗服务的机会，ASAP法案推动了一个更加公平的医疗体系，在这个体系中，一个人从最新创新中受益的能力不会由其收入状况或居住地决定——这也是民主党人的一个核心优先事项。
The legislation reflects principles that both parties can get behind. It encourages prevention, innovation, patient choice and fiscal responsibility — values Republicans have long championed. By increasing access to quality medical care, the ASAP Act advances a more equitable healthcare system where a person’s ability to benefit from the latest innovation isn’t determined by their income status or where they live — a key priority for Democrats.
归根结底，只有当人们能够使用科学成果时，这些成果才能充分发挥其潜力。1990年，国会投票决定确保医保覆盖乳腺X光检查，通过早期发现和乳腺癌治疗，拯救了数百万女性的生命。如今，我们有机会改变阿尔茨海默病的发展轨迹，书写新的篇章。
Ultimately, scientific advancements achieve their full potential only when people can access them. In 1990, Congress voted to ensure Medicare coverage of mammograms, saving the lives of millions of women through early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Today, we have the chance to change Alzheimer’s trajectory and write a new story.
每个家庭都应有权更早地获得诊断和治疗，而无需为了接受治疗而自掏腰包。目前，经美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）批准的阿尔茨海默病检测已经问世，但医保覆盖规则仍需跟上步伐。我们每拖延一个月，美国民众就错失一次从这些可能对其生活产生重大影响的科学进步中受益的机会。
Families deserve access to earlier diagnosis and treatment without being forced to pay out of pocket just to get care. FDA-cleared Alzheimer’s tests are now available; coverage rules need to keep up. Every month we delay costs Americans opportunities to benefit from advances that could make a meaningful difference in their lives.
我们众议院的224位同事共同提出了这项法案，这显示出我们不应浪费的强劲势头。等待的时刻已经结束，我们必须立即行动。
Two hundred twenty-four of our House colleagues have co-sponsored our bill, a sign of momentum we should not squander. The time for waiting is over. We must act ASAP.
弗恩·布坎南代表佛罗里达州第16选区。他是众议院财政委员会副主席、该委员会卫生小组委员会主席，也是代表佛罗里达州西南部地区在众议院任职时间最长的共和党人。保罗·通科代表纽约州第20选区。他是众议院能源与商业委员会成员，并担任该委员会环境小组委员会的资深成员。
Vern Buchanan serves Florida’s 16th District. He is vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, chairman of its Health Subcommittee, and the longest-serving Republican to represent Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. Paul Tonko serves New York’s 20th District. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves as ranking member of its Environment Subcommittee.