Senate Bill sb1480
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 1480
By Senator Wise
5-1198-07
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to Alzheimer's disease;
3 creating s. 430.505, F.S.; requiring the
4 Department of Elderly Affairs to establish a
5 program to educate the public about screening
6 for memory impairment; requiring the department
7 to submit an annual report to the Legislature;
8 authorizing the department to make grants to
9 certain entities in support of the program;
10 defining the term "qualifying entity";
11 providing that preference for awarding a grant
12 be given to entities that meet certain
13 requirements; requiring each qualifying entity
14 to submit an evaluation of its activities;
15 authorizing the department to set aside funds
16 for technical assistance; providing
17 requirements for an application for a grant;
18 requiring the department to conduct an evidence
19 report concerning memory impairment; providing
20 requirements for the evidence report; providing
21 an appropriation; providing an effective date.
22
23 WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a slow, progressive
24 disorder of the brain which results in loss of memory and
25 other cognitive function and, eventually, death; is the eighth
26 leading cause of death in the United States; and currently
27 affects an estimated 5 million Americans, with that number
28 expected to increase to 16 million by midcentury, and
29 WHEREAS, the disease strikes approximately one in 10
30 persons over age 65 and nearly half of those 85 or older,
31 although some people develop symptoms as early as age 40, and
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 1480
5-1198-07
1 WHEREAS, Alzheimer's takes an enormous toll on family
2 members, with an estimated one to four persons acting as
3 caregivers for each individual having the disease, and these
4 caregivers suffer more stress, depression, and health problems
5 than caregivers of people who have other illnesses, and
6 WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease costs businesses in the
7 United States more than $60 billion annually, stemming from
8 lost productivity and absenteeism of primary caregivers and
9 from insurance costs, and
10 WHEREAS, recent advancements in scientific research
11 have demonstrated the benefits of early medical treatment for
12 individuals who have Alzheimer's disease, as well as the
13 benefits of early access to counseling and other support
14 services for their caregivers, and
15 WHEREAS, promising research shows that several
16 medications can slow the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and
17 that individuals begin to benefit most when these medications
18 are taken in the early stages of memory disorder, and this
19 intervention may extend the time that patients can be cared
20 for at home, thereby significantly reducing the costs of
21 institutional care, and
22 WHEREAS, with early diagnosis, patients and their
23 families can also take advantage of support services and
24 individuals can participate in decisions regarding their care,
25 and, according to several research studies, such care and
26 support can reduce caregiver depression and related health
27 problems, and
28 WHEREAS, in direct response to research breakthroughs,
29 National Memory Screening Day was established as a
30 collaborative effort by organizations and health care
31 professionals across the country to promote awareness and
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 1480
5-1198-07
1 early detection of memory impairments, underscoring the
2 importance of early diagnosis so that individuals can obtain
3 proper medical treatment, social services, and other resources
4 related to their condition, and
5 WHEREAS, National Memory Screening Day is held on the
6 third Tuesday of November in recognition of National
7 Alzheimer's Disease Month and, on this day, health care
8 professionals administer free memory screenings at hundreds of
9 sites throughout the United States, and
10 WHEREAS, a memory screening is used as an indicator of
11 whether a person might benefit from more extensive testing to
12 determine whether a memory or cognitive impairment may exist,
13 and this screening also helps identify people who can benefit
14 from medical attention, the screening is not used to diagnose
15 any illness and in no way replaces examination by a qualified
16 physician, NOW, THEREFORE,
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Section 430.505, Florida Statutes, is
21 created to read:
22 430.505 Screening program for the early detection of
23 memory impairment.--
24 (1) PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SCREENING FOR MEMORY
25 IMPAIRMENT.--
26 (a) The Department of Elderly Affairs shall establish
27 a program to educate the public with respect to screening for
28 memory impairment, including the importance of early diagnosis
29 and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
30 (b) The department shall annually submit to the
31 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 1480
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1 Representatives a report concerning the activities carried out
2 under this section, including the extent to which the
3 activities have affected the rate of screening for memory
4 impairment and have improved outcomes for patients and
5 caregivers.
6 (2) GRANTS FOR MEMORY IMPAIRMENT SCREENING AND
7 EDUCATION.--
8 (a) The department may make grants to a qualifying
9 entity to support the development, expansion, or operation of
10 programs that provide:
11 1. Information and education concerning the importance
12 of memory screening for early diagnosis and treatment of
13 Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; and
14 2. Screenings for memory impairment.
15 (b) For purposes of this section, the term "qualifying
16 entity" means a public or nonprofit entity that provides
17 services and care to individuals who have Alzheimer's disease
18 and related dementias and to their caregivers and families.
19 (c) In making grants under paragraph (a), the
20 department shall give preference to applicants that:
21 1. Demonstrate experience in promoting public
22 education and awareness of the importance of memory screening
23 or in providing memory screening services;
24 2. Establish arrangements with health care
25 professionals and other organizations to provide screenings
26 for memory impairment in a manner that is convenient to
27 individuals in the communities served by the applicants; and
28 3. Provide matching funds.
29 (d) A qualifying entity that receives a grant under
30 this section shall submit to the department an evaluation that
31 describes activities carried out using funds received under
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1 this section, the long-term effectiveness of such activities
2 in promoting early detection of memory impairment, and any
3 other information that the department requires.
4 (e) The department may set aside an amount not to
5 exceed 15 percent of the total amount appropriated for a
6 fiscal year to provide grantees with technical support in
7 developing, implementing, and evaluating programs under this
8 section.
9 (f) A grant may be made under this subsection only if
10 an application for the grant is submitted to the department
11 and the application is in the form, made in the manner, and
12 contains the agreements, assurances, and information that the
13 department determines to be necessary to administer this
14 section.
15 (3) EVIDENCE REPORT ON SCREENING FOR MEMORY
16 IMPAIRMENT.--
17 (a) The department shall conduct or support an
18 evidence report concerning screening for memory impairment.
19 (b) The report must analyze scientific evidence
20 regarding techniques for memory screening, assess the
21 availability of memory screening on a nationwide basis, and
22 identify strategies to expand screening services through
23 public-private partnerships in order to improve outcomes for
24 patients and caregivers.
25 (c) The department shall prepare and submit to the
26 relevant committees of the Senate and the House of
27 Representatives a report that describes the results of the
28 evidence report described in this subsection by June 30, 2008.
29 The report must include specific recommendations for
30 increasing awareness of the importance of early detection of
31 memory impairment and improving access to memory screening
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 1480
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1 services by supporting and expanding existing screening
2 efforts in the private sector.
3 Section 2. There is appropriated from the General
4 Revenue Fund to the Department of Elderly Affairs for the
5 2007-2008 fiscal year the sum of $500,000 to be used in
6 implementing the program created in this act.
7 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
8
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10 SENATE SUMMARY
11 Requires the Department of Elderly Affairs to establish a
program to educate the public about screening for memory
12 impairment. Requires the department to submit an annual
report. Authorizes the department to make grants to
13 certain entities in support of the pilot program. Defines
the term "qualifying entity." Provides preference to
14 entities that meet certain requirements. Requires
qualifying entities to submit evaluations. Authorizes the
15 department to set aside funds for technical assistance.
Provides requirements for application for a grant.
16 Requires the department to conduct an evidence report on
memory impairment. Provides requirements for the evidence
17 report.
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