Reps. Barragán and Joyce introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Innovative Treatments for Seniors and People with Disabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

25 June 2026

Contact: [email protected]

Reps. Barragán and Joyce introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Innovative Treatments for Seniors and People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Yesterday, Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA) and John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA) reintroduced the bipartisan Access to Innovative Treatments Act (AITA), a bill that would improve access to promising new treatments for seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare.

The bill would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider certain Medicare coverage decisions in a timely manner when new evidence of a drug's effectiveness becomes available, and ensures that drugs are evaluated on an individual basis, rather than as part of a broad class. AITA does not require coverage or reimbursement of any specific drug. It instead ensures Medicare coverage decisions are based on the best available evidence and revisited as data evolves, giving patients a fairer opportunity to access innovative therapies when they need them most. This could lead to the lower out-of-pocket costs for new, expensive drugs that get covered under Medicare.

The bill addresses concerns following CMS' decision in 2022 to deny Medicare coverage of certain FDA-approved, Alzheimer's treatments unless patients were enrolled in clinical trials, which caused confusion and restricted access- particularly for individuals in rural and underserved communities.

"Patients should not be denied access to promising treatments simply because of outdated or overly broad coverage decisions. The Access to Innovative Treatments Act is necessary to ensure that Medicare keeps pace with the latest science- it creates accountability by establishing a timeline to review new evidence and giving every treatment a fair, individualized review. Thank you to Dr. Joyce for joining me to put patients first and make sure seniors and people with disabilities have a real opportunity to benefit from medical innovation, no matter where they live or what type of insurance they have," said Congresswoman Nanette Barragán.

"Approximately 282,000 Pennsylvanians are living with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to grow significantly in the years ahead. Unfortunately, access to treatments and care is not keeping pace. This legislation calls on CMS to provide coverage for emerging therapies that have demonstrated effectiveness, ensuring patients have access to options that can improve quality of life, help slow the progression of this devastating disease, and provide hope for patients and their families. I thank Congresswoman Barragán for her continued partnership in addressing this challenging reality faced by millions of Americans seeking solutions and support," said Congressman John Joyce, M.D.

"The Access to Innovative Treatments Act would ensure Medicare coverage decisions are made based on a treatment's own clinical evidence - not broad, class-wide restrictions that create unnecessary barriers to FDA-approved therapies,' said Rachel Conant, Alzheimer's Association Senior Vice President of Public Policy and AIM executive director. 'We are grateful to Reps. Barragán and Joyce for their longstanding commitment to the Alzheimer's community and their bipartisan leadership on this issue. For people living with Alzheimer's, the window to benefit from treatment is limited - delays in access have real consequences, and this legislation would help ensure patients can reach FDA-approved therapies when they matter most."

"In 2022, one in five adults aged 65 and older skipped, delayed, or rationed prescription treatments due to concerns about the out-of-pocket costs they would incur at the pharmacy counter," said Scott Frey, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations for the Alliance for Aging Research. "Those cost challenges have only been exacerbated in recent years as patients balance their healthcare needs against rising costs for other essential goods. The Alliance champions the Access to Innovative Treatments Act because we recognize the critical need to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for Americans, especially those who rely on prescription drugs to manage chronic and complex diseases."

"People living with Alzheimer's cannot afford unnecessary delays in accessing FDA-approved treatments that may help slow the progression of this devastating disease," said Catherine Patterson, Acting Chief Operating Officer, UsAgainstAlzheimer's. "We thank Representatives John Joyce and Nanette Barragán for their leadership on the Access to Innovative Treatments Act, which helps ensure Medicare coverage decisions keep pace with evolving clinical evidence. By creating a more transparent and accountable process for reconsidering coverage as new data emerge, and by evaluating therapies on an individual basis, this legislation puts patients and their families first. UsAgainstAlzheimer's is proud to support this important effort to expand timely access to treatments."

The following organizations have endorsed the bill: Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), Alliance for Aging Research, National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), UsAgainstAlzheimer's.

For the full text of the bill, see HERE.

###