BILL NUMBER: S6504A Revised 6/6/2023
SPONSOR: CHU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing an
Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program
 
PURPOSE:
Amends the public health law to include Alzheimer's disease and other
related dementias to fall within the auspices of the Health Care and
Wellness Education and Outreach Program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill adds new paragraph in subdivision 1 of section 207
of the public health law to include Alzheimer's disease and dementias to
make eligible for community support services, including caregiver
support groups and services, respite, care management, resources, and
information that the commissioner and director of the office of aging
deem appropriate.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the New York State Task Force on Alzheimer's disease and
other Dementias, 300,000 older New York State residents have dementia
and this number is projected to continue growing rapidly. Coined "The
Disease of the Century", the challenges that New York is and will
continue to face in serving this population and caregivers will continue
to grow. Fortunately, there is growing research and best practices that
have helped better identify persons with Alzheimer's disease, better
care for persons with Alzheimer's disease, provide better support
services for caregivers and provide packages of services that delay
nursing home placements. As the population ages, it is important to
acknowledge and include Alzheimer's and dementia through the State's
Health Care and Wellness Education and Outreach program so that we
provide appropriate information and assistance, training and outreach
and education to providers of services and to the general public. This
will facilitate and ensure that identification and intervention occur
earlier and families are linked with the appropriate support to help
provide a good quality of life for the individual with the disease.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2007-08: A4149 (Englebright) referred to ways and means
2009-10: A3888 (Englebright) referred to aging
2011-12: A3958 (Englebright) referred to health
2013-14: A4186 (Englebright) referred to health
2015-16: A5013 (Englebright) referred to health
2017-18: A6138 (Englebright) referred to health
2019-20: A5666 (Englebright) referred to health
2021-22: A7344 (Englebright) referred to health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.