Delaware bill could make diagnostic testing more affordable, advocates say

Salisbury, Md. – Pieces of legislation are making their way through Delaware’s legislative session that could make diagnostic testing for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia more accessible and affordable, according to advocates.

“This is about hope. This is the first step in a very long road to one day eradicating this disease,” Sean Dwyer said. Dwyer is the Alzheimer’s Association territory government relations director for their central east area.

For the Alzheimer’s Association, Senate Substitute 1 to Senate Bill 120 would mean that health insurance companies would need to cover biomarker testing, a kind of testing that helps diagnose diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Which, they say, can mean everything to families and patients when these diseases are caught early.

“These tests are, you know, you can’t treat, you can’t cure without diagnosis,” Dwyer said. “This is the most precise diagnosis we’ve had to date. And, you know, for families who have a loved one who is starting to experience symptoms and that sort of thing, it it brings a level of certainty.”

That certainty, he said, can help patients and families plan for the future.

Glen Gray volunteers with the association and is a board chair of its newly minted Delaware Chapter. Two years ago, his wife passed away from early onset dementia.

“Took almost two years to get a diagnosis,” Gray said.

Precious time that he said they could have saved with the right testing. He also said they could only access certain clinical trails with a diagnosis.

“To make a long story, very long story short, power of attorney was no longer available to us,” Gray said. “I had to go through the entire guardianship process, which is long and painful and costly. And an early diagnosis may have very well prevented us from going through that process.”

Dwyer said the legislation makes it so that the tests would be ordered by a doctor and would only be covered if deemed medically necessary. He said the legislation is more relevant than ever as Alzheimer’s is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and Delaware’s aging population continues to grow.

The bill unanimously passed the Senate and heads to the House floor.