Bill Text: HI HB1873 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Alzheimer's Disease.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 34-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-06 - The committee(s) on HLT/HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB1873 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1873-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1873
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to alzheimer's disease.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease in America, costing more than cancer and heart disease.  In 2019, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias totaled an estimated $290,000,000,000.  The average costs of a person with dementia are $287,000 during the last five years of life.  This compares with $175,000 for a person with heart disease and $173,000 for someone with cancer.

     In Hawaii, the medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's disease totaled $232,000,000 in 2019, with $17,965 in per capita medicare spending, and unpaid caregiver time valued at $941,000,000.

     Less than one per cent of those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease receive comprehensive care planning services, despite such services being eligible under medicaid and medicare.  Those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias who engage in comprehensive care planning can reduce their financial burden and significantly improve their overall quality of life.

     The legislature further finds that consultation with medical professionals will enable more people to adequately plan for comprehensive care after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish an outreach program in the department of health to inform medical professionals participating in medicare that comprehensive care planning services for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is a covered benefit under the medicare program.

     SECTION 2.  The department of health shall establish an outreach program to conduct a comprehensive, one-time education initiative informing physicians and appropriate non-physician practitioners participating in the medicare program that comprehensive care planning services for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is a covered benefit under the medicare program.  The outreach program shall:

     (1)  Include materials on appropriate diagnostic evaluations;

     (2)  Include explanations of the requirements for eligibility for such services; and

     (3)  Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including a review of the barriers to individuals receiving care planning services, how the rate of usage can be increased, and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the outreach program established pursuant to 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, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Health; Alzheimer's Disease; Comprehensive Care Planning; Kupuna Caucus

 

Description:

Establishes an outreach program in the department of health to inform physicians and appropriate non-physician practitioners participating in medicare that comprehensive care planning services for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is a covered benefit under medicare.

 

 

 

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