THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	595
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to health.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Alzheimer's disease is a large and growing epidemic that has a huge impact in Hawaii. More than six million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, a figure expected to reach 12.7 million in 2050. In 2019, Alzheimer's disease was the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with deaths from the disease having risen by one hundred forty-five per cent between 2000 and 2019.

The legislature further finds that the impact of Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii is projected to rise. According to data from the Alzheimer's Association, 29,000 people aged sixty-five and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, 6.7 per cent of people aged forty-five and older have subjective cognitive decline, and 52,000 family caregivers bear the burden of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii. In 2020, Hawaii family members and friends of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia provided eighty-three million hours of care at an economic value of nearly $1,700,000,000.

The legislature additionally finds that one-third of recipients of home health care and adult day care have Alzheimer's disease. The average per-person medicaid spending for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia is twenty-three times greater than the average per-person medicaid spending across all seniors without dementia. In total, caring for people with Alzheimer's disease generated an estimated medicaid cost of $59,000,000,000 in 2021. Between 2020 and 2025, thirty states will see medicaid spending on people with Alzheimer's disease increase by at least twenty per cent, before adjusting for inflation. By 2050, medicaid spending on those with Alzheimer's disease will total an estimated $199,000,000,000, based on current dollars.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia public health campaign.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the executive office on aging of the department of health to create an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia public health campaign to educate the public on:

(1) The early signs of cognitive impairment;

(2) The value of early detection and diagnosis; and

(3) Discussing with health care professionals any changes in memory and thinking.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Executive Office on Aging; Alzheimer's Disease; Public Health Campaign; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the executive office on aging to create an Alzheimer's disease public health campaign.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.