Millions of Americans relying on Medicaid are being left behind as most states refuse to update coverage for new Alzheimer’s blood tests.

Story Snapshot

• Medicaid coverage for Alzheimer’s blood tests remains outdated despite FDA clearance and scientific validation.
• Black, Hispanic, and rural Americans face the highest risk of delayed diagnosis due to policy gaps.
• Only 18 of 51 state Medicaid programs mention Alzheimer’s blood tests in their public documents as of August 2025.
• Federal guidance and state action are urgently needed to reduce health disparities and control rising costs.

Medicaid’s Outdated Coverage Fuels Diagnostic Inequities

As of August 2025, Medicaid has failed to keep pace with advances in Alzheimer’s diagnostics, with most states neglecting to update coverage for newly FDA-cleared blood tests. While Medicare beneficiaries now benefit from access to amyloid PET scans and validated blood-based biomarker tests, Medicaid enrollees—disproportionately Black, Hispanic, rural, and low-income—face significant barriers. Only 18 of 51 state Medicaid programs even mention coverage for these tests, leaving millions without timely, affordable options for early diagnosis. The result is a widening gap in care and outcomes for the nation’s most vulnerable.

Watch: Alzheimer’s: Blood Tests That Can Predict Your Future – YouTube

Florida stands out as a lone leader, passing legislation in 2024 to require Medicaid coverage for Alzheimer’s blood tests. This move highlights both the potential for state-level reform and the broader failure of most states to act. The lack of federal direction from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) means states retain broad autonomy, creating a patchwork of coverage that reinforces disparities. Advocacy organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association, have issued urgent calls for CMS to issue national guidance and compel broader adoption, but progress remains slow.

Medicaid lags behind on Alzheimer’s blood test coverage https://t.co/m0ZcTIb7DD #Conditions #Neurology via @kevinmd

— Kevin Pho, M.D. (@kevinmd) August 18, 2025

Health and Economic Consequences of Coverage Gaps

The consequences of Medicaid’s outdated policies are severe—both for patients and taxpayers. Delayed or missed diagnoses mean families lose crucial time to access new disease-modifying treatments, intensifying emotional and financial burdens. Medicaid spending on Alzheimer’s care is projected to surge by at least 40% in 24 states by year’s end, fueled by late-stage interventions that are far costlier than preventative care. Excluding affordable diagnostics not only worsens health outcomes but drives up long-term costs, undermining fiscal responsibility and placing additional strain on already overburdened state budgets.

Family caregivers, who shoulder much of the cost and stress of Alzheimer’s care, are hit hardest by diagnostic delays. Providers in rural and underserved areas struggle to deliver quality care without access to modern tools, further isolating these communities. The reluctance or inability of Medicaid to reimburse for blood-based tests deters innovation and market access for diagnostic manufacturers, jeopardizing future advancements. The ongoing policy inertia stands in stark contrast to the rapid scientific progress made in Alzheimer’s research.

Calls for Reform and Conservative Policy Solutions

Conservative principles of fiscal accountability, equal opportunity, and family protection demand urgent reform. Federal and state leaders must prioritize closing the diagnostic gap by modernizing Medicaid coverage for Alzheimer’s blood tests. Policy action is essential to defend the well-being of vulnerable Americans, uphold family values, and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. As new treatments emerge, the burden of inaction grows heavier—making reform not just a matter of health equity but a moral imperative for a nation committed to fairness and opportunity.

Sources:

Alzheimer’s Association, 2025 Facts and Figures
Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, 2025
Alzheimer’s Association, 2025 Facts and Figures
KFF, Medicaid Coverage for Adults with Chronic Conditions, 2025
JAMA Network Open, Medicaid Payments and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer Disease, 2025