Several states wrapped up their legislative sessions by approving legislation that affects individuals living with dementia and their families, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Testing coverage
Several enacted bills involve biomarker testing.
In New Jersey, SB 3098 was enacted, requiring the state Medicaid program and private insurers to provide coverage for such testing. The bill includes diagnosis, treatment, management and ongoing monitoring of an individual’s disease or condition, excluding asymptomatic screening.
Florida enacted HB 885 last summer, requiring state employee group health insurance plan policies and the state Medicaid program to provide coverage for biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, management and ongoing monitoring of disease. Colorado enacted similar legislation when Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed SB 24-214, requiring large group, small group and individual health benefit plans to cover biomarker testing to guide treatment decisions.
Kansas state lawmakers also enacted SB 125, the state budget bill, which allocated funding for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to apply for a state plan amendment that would provide reimbursement for cognitive assessments and care planning.
Showing support
Washington, DC’s Department of Aging and Community Living created a new program to support people living with dementia and their family caregivers. A full-time staff position also was created to support community education and to provide support and resources to families of individuals living with dementia, particularly those at risk of institutionalization or neglect.
Virginia lawmakers allocated two appropriations totaling $500,000 in new, dementia-specific funding. Of the total, $400,000 was designated to expand the interdisciplinary plan of care and dementia case management to two Area Agencies on Aging. An additional $100,000 in new funding was provided to the Regional Older Adults Facility Team in Northern Virginia to provide services to older adults with mental illness and dementia.
Meanwhile, HB 2575 was signed into law in West Virginia, establishing a full-time, permanent dementia services coordinator staff position in the state’s Department of Health. The position will be responsible for implementing the state Alzheimer’s plan, applying for federal grants, coordinating dementia information and collecting dementia-related data.
Strengthening training
In Kansas, training standards for long-term care ombudsmen and their regional staff members were changed through SB 88, which requires training on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Training topics will focus on recognizing behavioral symptoms, person-centered care, effective communication, addressing threats to safety, and connecting residents to local care resources.
And in North Dakota, SB 2140 was signed into law, meant to modernize the state’s Dementia Care Services program to increase public awareness, improve dementia knowledge among first responders and public health providers, and enhance dementia-specific training for care providers. The legislation also broadens eligibility for assessment and referral services to those who do not have a diagnosis but have symptoms of dementia.
Meanwhile, Washington state’s lawmakers took action with SB 5337 in an effort to improve the quality of care for people living with dementia. The bill creates a definition of memory care units and requires communities with memory care units to be certified by the state’s Department of Social and Health Services. The certification process will require staff members to receive dementia-specific training and implement staffing, programmatic and safety plans to help ensure resident well-being.
Source: McKnights Seniorliving