HB 1251

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to Alzheimer's disease; creating s.
3	430.5025, F.S.; directing the Department of Elderly
4	Affairs to develop and implement a public education
5	program relating to screening for Alzheimer's disease;
6	providing criteria for awarding grants; providing a
7	definition; requiring grant recipients to submit an
8	evaluation of certain activities to the department;
9	authorizing the department to provide technical support;
10	requiring a report; providing an appropriation; creating
11	s. 430.5026, F.S.; requiring the department to conduct or
12	support a study on memory impairment screening; requiring
13	a report; providing an effective date.
14
15	WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a slow, progressive
16	disorder of the brain that results in loss of memory and other
17	cognitive functions, is the eighth leading cause of death in the
18	United States, and currently affects an estimated 5 million
19	Americans, with that number expected to increase to 16 million
20	by mid-century, and
21	WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease strikes approximately 1 in 10
22	people over the age of 65 and nearly half of those who are age
23	85 or older, although some people develop symptoms as young as
24	age 40, and
25	WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on
26	family members who are the caregivers for individuals with the
27	disease, and
28	WHEREAS, caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's
29	disease suffer more stress, depression, and health problems than
30	caregivers for individuals with other illnesses, and
31	WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease costs United States businesses
32	more than $60 billion annually due to lost productivity and
33	absenteeism by primary caregivers and increased insurance costs,
34	and
35	WHEREAS, recent advancements in scientific research have
36	demonstrated the benefits of early medical treatment for persons
37	with Alzheimer's disease and the benefits of early access to
38	counseling and other support services for their caregivers, and
39	WHEREAS, research shows that several medications have been
40	developed that can reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease,
41	that persons begin to benefit most when these medications are
42	taken in the early stages of a memory disorder, and that this
43	intervention may extend the period of time during which patients
44	can be cared for at home, thereby significantly reducing the
45	costs of institutional care, and
46	WHEREAS, with early diagnosis, patients can participate in
47	decisions regarding their care and their families can take
48	advantage of support services that can reduce caregiver
49	depression and related health problems, and
50	WHEREAS, in direct response to research breakthroughs,
51	National Memory Screening Day was established as a collaborative
52	effort by organizations and health care professionals across the
53	country to promote awareness and early detection of memory
54	impairments, and
55	WHEREAS, on National Memory Screening Day, which is held on
56	the third Tuesday of November in recognition of National
57	Alzheimer's Disease Month, health care professionals administer
58	free memory screenings at hundreds of sites throughout the
59	United States, and
60	WHEREAS, memory screening is used as an indicator of
61	whether a person might benefit from more extensive testing to
62	determine whether a memory or cognitive impairment exists and
63	identifies persons who may benefit from medical attention but is
64	not used to diagnose any illness and in no way replaces
65	examination by a qualified physician, NOW, THEREFORE,
66
67	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
68
69	Section 1.  Section 430.5025, Florida Statutes, is created
70	to read:
71	430.5025  Memory impairment screening; grants.--
72	(1)  The Department of Elderly Affairs shall develop and
73	implement a public education program relating to screening for
74	memory impairment and the importance of early diagnosis and
75	treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
76	(2)  The department may award grants to qualifying entities
77	to support the development, expansion, or operation of programs
78	that provide:
79	(a)  Information and education on the importance of memory
80	screening for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's
81	disease and related disorders.
82	(b)  Screenings for memory impairment.
83	(3)  For purposes of this section, the term "qualifying
84	entities" means public and nonprofit private entities that
85	provide services and care to individuals with Alzheimer's
86	disease and related disorders and their caregivers and families.
87	(4)  When awarding grants under this section, the
88	department shall give preference to applicants that:
89	(a)  Have demonstrated experience in promoting public
90	education and awareness of the importance of memory screening or
91	providing memory screening services.
92	(b)  Have established arrangements with health care
93	providers and other organizations to provide screenings for
94	memory impairment in a manner that is convenient to individuals
95	in the communities served by the applicants.
96	(c)  Provide matching funds.
97	(5)  A qualifying entity that receives a grant under this
98	section shall submit to the department an evaluation that
99	describes activities carried out with funds received under this
100	section, the long-term effectiveness of such activities in
101	promoting early detection of memory impairment, and such other
102	information as the department may require.
103	(6)  The department may set aside an amount not to exceed
104	15 percent of the total amount appropriated for the fiscal year
105	under subsection (9) to provide grantees with technical support
106	in the development, implementation, and evaluation of memory
107	screening programs.
108	(7)  A grant may be awarded under subsection (2) only if an
109	application for the grant is submitted to the department and the
110	application is in such form, is made in such manner, and
111	contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the
112	department determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes
113	of this section.
114	(8)  The department shall annually submit to the President
115	of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
116	report on the activities carried out under this section,
117	including provisions describing the extent to which the
118	activities have affected the rate of screening for memory
119	impairment and have improved outcomes for patients and
120	caregivers.
121	(9)  The sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the General
122	Revenue Fund to the Department of Elderly Affairs for the 2007-
123	2008 fiscal year to implement the provisions of this section.
124	Section 2.  Section 430.5026, Florida Statutes, is created
125	to read:
126	430.5026  Study on screening for memory impairment.--
127	(1)  The Department of Elderly Affairs shall conduct or
128	provide support for a study on screening for memory impairment.
129	The study shall analyze scientific evidence regarding techniques
130	for memory screening, assess the availability of memory
131	screening on a nationwide basis, and identify strategies to
132	expand screening services through public-private partnerships to
133	improve outcomes for patients and caregivers.
134	(2)  The department shall, not later than 12 months after
135	this section becomes law, prepare and submit to the relevant
136	substantive committees of the Senate and the House of
137	Representatives a report that describes the results of the study
138	conducted under this section. The report shall include specific
139	recommendations to increase awareness of the importance of early
140	detection of memory impairment and to improve access to memory
141	screening services nationwide by supporting and expanding
142	existing screening efforts in the private sector.
143	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

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