HB322

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	322
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 in 2020, family members and friends of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia provided 15.3 billion hours of care at an economic value of nearly $244,000,000,000. More than forty per cent of seniors in assisted living facilities have Alzheimer's disease.

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 establish and appropriate funds for a working group to plan and implement a public health campaign for Alzheimer's awareness.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the Alzheimer's working group within the department of health for administrative purposes. The working group shall plan and implement a public health campaign for awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other related dementia.

(b) The Alzheimer's working group shall be comprised of the following members:

(1) The director of health, or the director's designee;

(2) The executive director of the executive office on aging, or the executive director's designee;

(3) The executive director of the Alzheimer's Association, or the executive director's designee; and

(4) The executive director of AARP, or the executive director's designee.

(c) In planning for the public health campaign for Alzheimer's awareness and other related dementia, the Alzheimer's working group shall include material 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.

(d) The Alzheimer's working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than January 1, 2024. The report shall include a media campaign with deliverables from member organizations of the working group, a proposed budget for each deliverable, and a proposed timeline to execute the planned activities of the media campaign.

(e) The Alzheimer's working group shall dissolve on December 31, 2025.

SECTION 3. 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 purposes of the Alzheimer's working group established by this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________