House Study Bill 610 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON SMITH) A BILL FOR An Act relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders 1 and the role of the department of public health in 2 collecting data concerning Alzheimer’s disease and providing 3 resources and services to persons suffering from the 4 disease. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5543YC (1) 83 jr/nh
H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 135.171, Code 2009, is amended by 1 striking the section and inserting in lieu thereof the 2 following: 3 135.171 Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders —— 4 Alzheimer’s disease service needs. 5 1. The department shall develop a resource to oversee 6 information and resources related to policy and services 7 affecting the rapidly increasing number of residents of 8 this state with Alzheimer’s disease and similar forms of 9 irreversible dementia, and the caregivers and families of the 10 residents. 11 2. The department, in consultation with the Alzheimer’s 12 association, area agencies on aging, the department on aging, 13 and other entities that work with persons suffering from 14 dementia-related illnesses, shall have the following duties: 15 a. Develop and improve resources and services to enhance the 16 quality of life for persons affected by dementia and for their 17 caregivers. 18 b. Compile a biannual analysis of Iowa’s population by 19 county and age to determine the existing service utilization 20 and future service needs of persons with Alzheimer’s disease 21 and similar forms of irreversible dementia and of the 22 caregivers to these persons. The analysis shall also address 23 the availability of existing caregiver services for such needs 24 and the appropriate service level for the future. 25 c. Collect data on the numbers of persons demonstrating 26 combative behavior related to Alzheimer’s disease and similar 27 forms of irreversible dementia. The department shall also 28 collect data on the number of physicians and geropsychiatric 29 units available in the state to provide treatment and services 30 to such persons. Health care facilities that serve such 31 persons shall provide information to the department for the 32 purposes of the data collection required by this paragraph. 33 d. Recommend the delivery of services in the most effective 34 and efficient manner possible to facilitate the needs of people 35 -1- LSB 5543YC (1) 83 jr/nh 1/ 3
H.F. _____ with dementia and their caregivers. 1 e. Convene workgroups as needed to address emerging concerns 2 related to the purpose of the department. 3 f. Seek funding that will enhance the department’s abilities 4 to perform its duties under this section. 5 g. Raise public awareness about existing services for 6 Iowans impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and similar forms of 7 irreversible dementia through public awareness campaigns and 8 referrals to existing resources. 9 h. Coordinate and oversee collaborative efforts to implement 10 the recommendations of the 2007 Alzheimer’s disease task force, 11 ensuring that the department’s work supports but does not 12 duplicate other initiatives and programs within the state, 13 including the activities of the department on aging pursuant 14 to section 231.62. 15 3. The department shall modify its community needs 16 assessment activities to include questions to identify and 17 quantify the numbers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and 18 similar forms of irreversible dementia at the community level. 19 4. The implementation of the requirements of this section 20 shall be limited to the extent of the funding appropriated or 21 otherwise made available for the requirements. 22 EXPLANATION 23 This bill strikes and replaces Code section 131.71, 24 incorporating the existing provisions, relating to the 25 collection and analysis of information relating to Alzheimer’s 26 disease. The department shall develop a resource to oversee 27 information and resources related to policy and services 28 affecting persons with dementia, and the caregivers and 29 families of those persons. The department has a variety of 30 duties relating to improving services to persons with dementia, 31 and their caregivers and families, consulting with state 32 agencies and other stakeholders, compiling a biannual analysis 33 of Iowa’s population by county and age to determine current 34 utilization and future service needs of stakeholders, and 35 -2- LSB 5543YC (1) 83 jr/nh 2/ 3
H.F. _____ raising public awareness about existing services. 1 The bill incorporates existing language from Code section 2 131.71 which requires the department of public health 3 to include in its community needs assessment activities 4 questions to identify and quantify the numbers of persons with 5 Alzheimer’s disease and similar forms of irreversible dementia 6 at the community level. 7 The bill incorporates existing language from Code section 8 131.71 which makes implementation of these requirements 9 contingent on the availability of funding. 10 -3- LSB 5543YC (1) 83 jr/nh 3/ 3