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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1078 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1380
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adam Gomez
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to strengthen our public health infrastructure to address alzheimer’s and all dementia.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Adam GomezHampdenVanna Howard17th Middlesex2/9/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/9/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/9/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/10/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/10/2023Daniel M. Donahue16th Worcester2/17/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/17/2023Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/21/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/21/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/23/2023 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1078 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1380
By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1380) of Adam Gomez, Vanna
Howard, Jack Patrick Lewis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for
legislation to strengthen our public health infrastructure to address alzheimer’s and all dementia.
Public Health.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to strengthen our public health infrastructure to address alzheimer’s and all dementia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 24N the following section:
3 24O: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Awareness
4 1. The Department of Public Health, in partnership with the Executive Office of Elder
5Affairs, the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias,
6and the Alzheimer's Association, shall develop a public awareness campaign on brain health,
7Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and incorporate the campaign into its existing,
8relevant public health outreach programs on an ongoing basis. The public awareness campaign
9shall:
10 (a) educate health care providers on the importance of early detection and timely
11diagnosis of cognitive impairment, validated cognitive assessment tools, current and emerging 2 of 5
12treatment options, the value of a Medicare Annual Wellness visit for cognitive health, and the
13Medicare care planning billing code for individuals with cognitive impairment;
14 (b) increase public understanding and awareness of early warning signs of Alzheimer's
15disease and other types of dementia, the value of early detection and diagnosis, and how to
16reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among persons in diverse communities who are
17at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia; and
18 (c) inform health care professionals and the general public of dementia care coordination
19services for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and other resources and
20services available to individuals living with dementia and their families and caregivers, in
21partnership with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Advisory Council on
22Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, and the Alzheimer's Association.
23 2. The department shall strive to provide uniform, consistent guidance on Alzheimer’s
24and other dementia in nonclinical terms, with an emphasis on cultural relevancy and health
25literacy, specifically targeting diverse populations who are at higher risk for developing dementia
26in its public awareness and educational outreach programs.
27 SECTION 2. Section 16AA of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as amended by Section 7
28of Chapter 154 of the Acts of 2018 is hereby further amended in subsection (f) by inserting after
29the words “shall detail such progress on a regional basis” the following:-
30 The annual report shall include data on the racial and ethnic disparities in morbidity and
31mortality rates for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and other diseases identified by the
32Office of Health Equity. 3 of 5
33 SECTION 3. Said section 16AA of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as amended by
34Section 1 of Chapter 2020 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby further amended by inserting after (3)
35the following section:-
36 The department of public health shall include the Caregiver Module and Cognitive
37Decline Module in the annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey on a
38rotating annual basis to collect prevalence data, track trends over time and analyze data to direct
39public health programs and resources.
40 SECTION 4. Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
41is hereby amended by inserting after section 16CC the following section:-
42 Section 16DD: Massachusetts Director of Dementia Care and Coordination
43 1. The position of Director of Dementia Care and Coordination is created within the
44Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The Secretary of Health and Human Services
45shall appoint the director who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The director may call
46upon appropriate agencies of the state government for assistance as is needed. Duties and
47responsibilities of the director shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
48 (a) Coordinate the successful implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan.
49 (b) In coordination with relevant departments and Chair of the Massachusetts Advisory
50Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, support the council’s work and
51annual updates to the Alzheimer’s state plan.
52 (c) Coordinate the public awareness efforts as directed in Section 1; Facilitate and
53support coordination of outreach programs and services between agencies, area agencies on 4 of 5
54aging, aging services access points and other interested groups for the purpose of fostering public
55awareness and education regarding Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
56 (d) Coordinate with relevant state agencies and organizations to ensure coordination of
57services, access to services and a high quality of care for individuals with dementia and their
58family caregivers to meet the needs of the affected population and prevent duplication of
59services; Facilitate coordination of services and activities between organizations interested in
60dementia programs and services, including, but not limited to, area agencies on aging, aging
61services access points, service providers, advocacy groups, legal services, emergency personnel
62and law enforcement.
63 (f) Assess dementia-related training requirements for healthcare, long term care and home
64and community based services professionals on a biannual basis, including hours required,
65frequency of training required and content of training, to determine whether existing training
66requirements meet the needs of the dementia community in Massachusetts; the assessment shall
67also include whether trainings incorporate Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and person
68centered care best practices; Upon completion of the assessment, provide recommendations to
69the Department of Public Health, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts
70Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, the Board of Registration in
71Nursing and the Board of Registration in Medicine for additional training necessary to
72adequately support the dementia community in Massachusetts.
73 (g) Work with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, the Board of
74Registration in Nursing and the Board of Registration in Medicine to ensure healthcare
75professionals are in compliance with dementia training requirements; work with the 5 of 5
76Commissioner of the Department of Public Health to ensure that hospitals are dementia capable
77and in compliance with Chapter 220 of the General Laws.
78 (h) Identify and manage grants to assist Massachusetts in becoming dementia-capable.
79 (i) Collect, monitor and report on data related to the impact of Alzheimer's disease in the
80commonwealth; work with the Department's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
81Coordinator in identifying available funds to execute appropriate modules for critical data
82collection and research; coordinate with the Department of Public Health to improve public
83health outcomes utilizing relevant dementia data.
84 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.