Coverage for Alzheimer’s Drug
Forbes.com reports that the Alzheimer’s medication lecanemab will be covered for the approximately 168,000 veterans with the disease, in order to provide “comprehensive, safe, and cost-effective pharmacy benefit for veterans.” Veterans must also meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Inclusion criteria:
- Age >65
- An AD early stage diagnosis
- ≤12 months prior cognition test
- ≤12 months prior MRI
- Results from analysis of cerebrospinal fluid consistent with AD
- Results from amyloid PET scan consistent with AD
Exclusions include:
- Mental health conditions potentially contributing to cognitive impairment
- Transient ischemic attack, stroke, seizure within ≤12 months
- MRI evidence of tumors, lesions, microhemorrhages, aneurysms
- Some bleeding disorders
- Above normal thyroid stimulating hormone range
- Uncontrolled immunological disease
The drug costs about $26,500 per year and it has not yet been stated what the VHA will pay for it.
