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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3244 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2398
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
_________________
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 :DATE ADDED:Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex1/16/2025 1 of 5
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3244 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2398
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2398) of
Marjorie C. Decker for legislation to strengthen the public health infrastructure to address
Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Public Health.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 24N the following section:-
3 24P: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Awareness
4 Section 24P. (a) The Department of Public Health, in partnership with the Executive
5Office of Elder Affairs and the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All
6Other Dementias, shall develop a public awareness campaign on brain health, Alzheimer’s
7disease and related dementias, and incorporate the campaign into its existing, relevant public
8health outreach programs on an ongoing basis. The public awareness campaign shall:
9 (i) educate health care providers on the importance of early detection and timely
10diagnosis of cognitive impairment, validated cognitive assessment tools, current and emerging
11treatment options, the value of a Medicare Annual Wellness visit for cognitive health, and the
12Medicare care planning billing code for individuals with cognitive impairment; 2 of 5
13 (ii) increase public understanding and awareness of early warning signs of Alzheimer's
14disease and other types of dementia, the value of early detection and diagnosis, and how to
15reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among persons in diverse communities who are
16at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia; and
17 (iii) inform health care professionals and the general public of dementia care coordination
18services for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and other resources and
19services available to individuals living with dementia and their families and caregivers, in
20partnership with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and the Massachusetts Advisory Council
21on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias.
22 (b). The department shall strive to provide uniform, consistent guidance on Alzheimer’s
23and other dementia in nonclinical terms, with an emphasis on cultural relevancy and health
24literacy, specifically targeting diverse populations who are at higher risk for developing dementia
25in its public awareness and educational outreach programs.
26 SECTION 2. Section 16AA of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as amended by Section 7
27of Chapter 154 of the Acts of 2018 is hereby further amended in subsection (f) by inserting after
28the words “shall detail such progress on a regional basis” the following:-
29 The annual report shall include data on the racial and ethnic disparities in morbidity and
30mortality rates for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and other diseases identified by the
31Office of Health Equity.
32 SECTION 3. Said section 16AA of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as amended by
33Section 1 of Chapter 2020 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby further amended by inserting after (3)
34the following section:- 3 of 5
35 (4) The department of public health shall include the Caregiver Module and Cognitive
36Decline Module in the annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey on a
37rotating annual basis to collect prevalence data, track trends over time and analyze data to direct
38public health programs and resources.
39 SECTION 4. Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
40is hereby amended by inserting after section 16FF the following section:-
41 Section 16GG: Massachusetts Director of Dementia Care and Coordination
42 Section 16GG. (a) The position of Director of Dementia Care and Coordination is created
43within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The Secretary of Health and Human
44Services shall appoint the director who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The director
45may call upon appropriate agencies of the state government for assistance as is needed. Duties
46and responsibilities of the director shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
47 (b) Coordinate the successful implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan.
48 (c) In coordination with relevant departments and Chair of the Massachusetts Advisory
49Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, support the council’s work and
50annual updates to the Alzheimer’s state plan.
51 (d) Coordinate the public awareness efforts as directed in Section 1; Facilitate and
52support coordination of outreach programs and services between agencies, area agencies on
53aging, aging services access points and other interested groups for the purpose of fostering public
54awareness and education regarding Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. 4 of 5
55 (e) Coordinate with relevant state agencies and organizations to ensure coordination of
56services, access to services and a high quality of care for individuals with dementia and their
57family caregivers to meet the needs of the affected population and prevent duplication of
58services; Facilitate coordination of services and activities between organizations interested in
59dementia programs and services, including, but not limited to, area agencies on aging, aging
60services access points, service providers, advocacy groups, legal services, emergency personnel
61and law enforcement.
62 (f) Assess dementia-related training requirements for healthcare, long term care and home
63and community based services professionals on a biannual basis, including hours required,
64frequency of training required and content of training, to determine whether existing training
65requirements meet the needs of the dementia community in Massachusetts; the assessment shall
66also include whether trainings incorporate Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and person
67centered care best practices; Upon completion of the assessment, provide recommendations to
68the Department of Public Health, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts
69Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, the Board of Registration in
70Nursing and the Board of Registration in Medicine for additional training necessary to
71adequately support the dementia community in Massachusetts.
72 (g) Work with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, the Board of
73Registration in Nursing and the Board of Registration in Medicine to ensure healthcare
74professionals are in compliance with dementia training requirements; work with the
75Commissioner of the Department of Public Health to ensure that hospitals are dementia capable
76and in compliance with Chapter 220 of the General Laws. 5 of 5
77 (h) Identify and manage grants to assist Massachusetts in becoming dementia-capable.
78 (i) Collect, monitor and report on data related to the impact of Alzheimer's disease in the
79commonwealth; work with the Department's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
80Coordinator in identifying available funds to execute appropriate modules for critical data
81collection and research; coordinate with the Department of Public Health to improve public
82health outcomes utilizing relevant dementia data.
83 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.