The Florida Senate

There is established:

for the purpose of conducting research and training in a diagnostic and therapeutic setting for persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders. However, memory disorder clinics funded as of June 30, 1995, shall not receive decreased funding due solely to subsequent additions of memory disorder clinics in this subsection.

It is the intent of the Legislature that research conducted by a memory disorder clinic and supported by state funds pursuant to subsection (1) be applied research, be service-related, and be selected in conjunction with the department. Such research may address, but is not limited to, diagnostic technique, therapeutic interventions, and supportive services for persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders and their caregivers. A memory disorder clinic shall conduct such research in accordance with a research plan developed by the clinic which establishes research objectives that are in accordance with this legislative intent. A memory disorder clinic shall also complete and submit to the department a report of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of completed research. This subsection does not apply to those memory disorder clinics at the three medical schools in the state or at the major private nonprofit research-oriented teaching hospital or other affiliated teaching hospital.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee shall evaluate and make recommendations to the department and the Legislature concerning the need for additional memory disorder clinics in the state.

Pursuant to the provisions of s. 287.057, the Department of Elderly Affairs may contract for the provision of specialized model day care programs in conjunction with the memory disorder clinics. The purpose of each model day care program must be to provide service delivery to persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or a related memory disorder and training for health care and social service personnel in the care of persons having Alzheimer’s disease or related memory disorders.

Pursuant to s. 287.057, the Department of Elderly Affairs shall contract for the provision of respite care. All funds appropriated for the provision of respite care shall be distributed annually by the department to each funded county according to an allocation formula. In developing the formula, the department shall consider the number and proportion of the county population of individuals who are 75 years of age and older. Each respite care program shall be used as a resource for research and statistical data by the memory disorder clinics established in this part. In consultation with the memory disorder clinics, the department shall specify the information to be provided by the respite care programs for research purposes.

Each contract entered into pursuant to this section must contain a requirement for a research component to be completed and reported on in writing to the department according to specifications and within a timeframe provided by the department.

The Agency for Health Care Administration and the department shall seek a federal waiver to implement a Medicaid home and community-based waiver targeted to persons with Alzheimer’s disease to test the effectiveness of Alzheimer’s specific interventions to delay or to avoid institutional placement.

The department shall implement the waiver program specified in subsection (7). The agency and the department shall ensure that providers who have a history of successfully serving persons with Alzheimer’s disease are selected. The department and the agency shall develop specialized standards for providers and services tailored to persons in the early, middle, and late stages of Alzheimer’s disease and designate a level of care determination process and standard that is most appropriate to this population. The department and the agency shall include in the waiver services designed to assist the caregiver in continuing to provide in-home care. The department shall implement this waiver program subject to a specific appropriation or as provided in the General Appropriations Act.

Authority to continue the waiver program specified in subsection (7) shall be automatically eliminated at the close of the 2010 Regular Session of the Legislature unless further legislative action is taken to continue it prior to such time.