Bill > H2398

This bill aims to strengthen Massachusetts' public health infrastructure for addressing Alzheimer's disease and dementia through several key provisions. It establishes a new public awareness campaign by the Department of Public Health that will educate healthcare providers about early detection, cognitive assessment tools, and treatment options, while also increasing public understanding of dementia's early warning signs and risk reduction strategies, with a specific focus on diverse communities at higher risk. The bill creates a new state-level position of Director of Dementia Care and Coordination within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, who will be responsible for implementing the state's Alzheimer's Disease State Plan, coordinating services across agencies, facilitating outreach programs, and assessing dementia-related training requirements for healthcare professionals. Additionally, the bill requires the annual state health report to include data on racial and ethnic disparities in Alzheimer's morbidity and mortality rates, and mandates that the Department of Public Health include specific dementia-related modules in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey to collect prevalence data and track trends over time. The overall goal is to improve awareness, support, and care for individuals with dementia and their caregivers across Massachusetts.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2398