Medicare Expands Coverage of PET Scans for Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Medicare is proposing to expand its coverage of PET scans, a diagnostic tool used to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The current policy of only covering one PET scan per lifetime for patients participating in clinical trials would be abolished. Regional organizations called Medicare Administrative Contractors would have the authority to decide whether to cover the scans based on their "reasonableness and necessity" for diagnosis. This change could make it easier for patients to access new treatments for Alzheimer's. Medicare has already agreed to cover the Alzheimer's treatment Leqembi, and will also cover other antibody treatments for Alzheimer's if they receive FDA approval. The proposed policy has been welcomed by the Alzheimer's Association as a "major step forward" in removing barriers for patients.