Millions of Americans and their families deal with the debilitating effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s.
For years, failed attempts to find treatments that would slow, stop, or cure these illnesses have discouraged researchers and patients. Although there are no cures for these progressive conditions, there are now treatments that can improve symptoms and quality of life, and there are promising new therapies in development.
Yet as patients and physicians look forward to these breakthrough treatments, a new concern looms: Will health plans and coverage policies allow patients to access long-awaited treatments for neurodegenerative diseases?