Stephen McConnell, the association's vice president for Advocacy and Public Policy, believes the new bills have a chance this time, especially with growing concern about Medicare dollars. “Elected officials are looking at ways to keep Medicare solvent as the Baby Boomers age,” he said in an interview. “Addressing AD is one way to help that cause.”
The disease is also grabbing a lot of headlines—and politicians view those as a meter of public interest. “Elected officials are tuned into that, especially in an election cycle.”