HB 589

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to Alzheimer's disease; creating s.
3430.5025, F.S.; directing the Department of Elderly
4Affairs to develop and implement a public education
5program relating to screening for Alzheimer's disease;
6providing criteria for awarding grants; providing a
7definition; requiring grant recipients to submit an
8evaluation of certain activities to the department;
9authorizing the department to provide technical support;
10requiring an annual report to the Legislature; requiring
11the department to conduct or support a study on memory-
12impairment screening; requiring a report to the
13Legislature; providing an effective date.
14
15     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease, a slow, progressive disorder
16of the brain which results in loss of memory and other cognitive
17functions, is the eighth leading cause of death in the United
18States and currently affects an estimated 5 million Americans,
19with that number expected to increase to 16 million by mid-
20century, and
21     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease strikes approximately 1 in 10
22people over the age of 65 and nearly half of those who are age
2385 or older, although some people develop symptoms as young as
24age 40, and
25     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on
26family members who are the caregivers for individuals having the
27disease, and
28     WHEREAS, caregivers for individuals who have Alzheimer's
29disease suffer more stress, depression, and health problems than
30caregivers for individuals who have other illnesses, and
31     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease costs United States businesses
32more than $60 billion annually due to lost productivity and
33absenteeism by primary caregivers and increased insurance costs,
34and
35     WHEREAS, recent advancements in scientific research have
36demonstrated the benefits of early medical treatment for persons
37who have Alzheimer's disease and the benefits of early access to
38counseling and other support services for their caregivers, and
39     WHEREAS, research shows that several medications have been
40developed which can reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease,
41that persons begin to benefit most when these medications are
42taken in the early stages of a memory disorder, and that this
43intervention may extend the period during which patients can be
44cared for at home, thereby significantly reducing the costs of
45institutional care, and
46     WHEREAS, with early diagnosis, patients can participate in
47decisions regarding their care and their families can take
48advantage of support services that can reduce caregiver
49depression and related health problems, and
50     WHEREAS, in direct response to research breakthroughs,
51National Memory Screening Day was established as a collaborative
52effort by organizations and health care professionals across the
53country to promote awareness and early detection of memory
54impairments, and
55     WHEREAS, on National Memory Screening Day, which is held on
56the third Tuesday of November in recognition of National
57Alzheimer's Disease Month, health care professionals administer
58free memory screenings at hundreds of sites throughout the
59United States, and
60     WHEREAS, memory screening is used as an indicator of
61whether a person might benefit from more extensive testing to
62determine whether a memory or cognitive impairment exists and
63identifies persons who may benefit from medical attention but is
64not used to diagnose any illness and in no way replaces
65examination by a qualified physician, NOW, THEREFORE,
66
67Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
68
69     Section 1.  Section 430.5025, Florida Statutes, is created
70to read:
71     430.5025  Memory impairment screening; grants.--
72     (1)  The Department of Elderly Affairs shall develop and
73implement a public education program relating to screening for
74memory impairment and the importance of early diagnosis and
75treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
76     (2)  The department may award grants to qualifying entities
77to support the development, expansion, or operation of programs
78that provide:
79     (a)  Information and education on the importance of memory
80screening for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's
81disease and related disorders.
82     (b)  Screenings for memory impairment.
83     (3)  As used in this section, the term "qualifying
84entities" means public and nonprofit private entities that
85provide services and care to individuals who have Alzheimer's
86disease or related disorders and their caregivers and families.
87     (4)  When awarding grants under this section, the
88department shall give preference to applicants that:
89     (a)  Have demonstrated experience in promoting public
90education and awareness of the importance of memory screening or
91providing memory-screening services.
92     (b)  Have established arrangements with health care
93providers and other organizations to provide screenings for
94memory impairment in a manner that is convenient to individuals
95in the communities served by the applicants.
96     (c)  Provide matching funds.
97     (5)  A qualifying entity that receives a grant under this
98section shall submit to the department an evaluation that
99describes activities carried out with funds received under this
100section, the long-term effectiveness of such activities in
101promoting early detection of memory impairment, and any other
102information that the department requires.
103     (6)  The department may set aside an amount not to exceed
10415 percent of the total amount appropriated for the fiscal year
105to provide grantees with technical support in the development,
106implementation, and evaluation of memory-screening programs.
107     (7)  A grant may be awarded under subsection (2) only if an
108application for the grant is submitted to the department and the
109application is in the form, is made in the manner, and contains
110the agreements, assurances, and information that the department
111determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of this
112section.
113     (8)  The department shall annually submit to the President
114of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
115report on the activities carried out under this section,
116including provisions describing the extent to which the
117activities have affected the rate of screening for memory
118impairment and have improved outcomes for patients and
119caregivers.
120     Section 2.  Study on screening for memory impairment.--
121     (1)  The Department of Elderly Affairs shall conduct or
122provide support for a study on screening for memory impairment.
123The study shall analyze scientific evidence regarding techniques
124for memory screening, assess the availability of memory
125screening on a nationwide basis, and identify strategies to
126expand screening services through public-private partnerships to
127improve outcomes for patients and caregivers.
128     (2)  The department shall, not later than 12 months after
129this section becomes law, prepare and submit to the relevant
130substantive committees of the Senate and the House of
131Representatives a report that describes the results of the study
132conducted under this section. The report shall include specific
133recommendations to increase awareness of the importance of early
134detection of memory impairment and to improve access to memory-
135screening services nationwide by supporting and expanding
136existing screening efforts in the private sector.
137     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.