Medicare’s Alzheimer’s Drug Plan Falls Short on Diversity Access

Racial minorities and others disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease could continue facing barriers to treatment unless Medicare does more to facilitate access to research and safety studies, policy watchers say.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ finalized plan for Biogen Inc.’s Aduhelm restricts coverage to patients enrolled in certain clinical trials. The agency says approved studies must include a diverse group of patients representative of the national diagnosed population. But patient advocates say it doesn’t clarify how trial organizers can combat geographic, financial, and safety barriers to participation.

These vulnerable patients are “the ones that are going to ...