Bill > H5619

This bill requires the Rhode Island Department of Health to enhance public health and healthcare provider education materials by incorporating comprehensive information about dementia, with a specific focus on brain health, risk factors, and risk reduction strategies. The bill mandates that public outreach programs provide clear, non-clinical guidance aimed at increasing public understanding of brain health, early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and the importance of early detection. The outreach will prioritize populations at higher risk of developing dementia. For healthcare providers, the education programs will focus on teaching the importance of early detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment, introducing validated assessment tools for cognitive decline, emphasizing the value of cognitive assessments during Medicare annual wellness visits, and educating providers about Medicare care planning billing codes for patients with cognitive impairment. These education initiatives will be developed in consultation with the existing advisory council for the Rhode Island Program to Address Alzheimer's Disease, with the goal of improving awareness, understanding, and proactive management of dementia-related health concerns.

Health and Social Services

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