The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Health Policy
BILL: SB 874
INTRODUCER: Senator Brodeur and others
SUBJECT: Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
DATE: March 16, 2021 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Looke Brown HP Favorable
2. AHS
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 874 creates s. 381.825, F.S., to require the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration
with the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) and the Alzheimer’s Association, to use existing,
relevant, public health, and community outreach programs to incorporate and disseminate
information to health care practitioners licensed under chs. 458,1 459,2 and 464,3 F.S., to educate
them on and increase their understanding and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other types
of dementia. The information must cover, at a minimum:
The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment.
Utilization of a validated cognitive assessment tool.
The value of Medicare annual wellness visits for cognitive health.
The use of the Medicare billing code for care planning for individuals with cognitive
impairment.
Methods to detect early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Methods to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among individuals in diverse
communities who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of
dementia.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2021.
1
Medicine.
2
Osteopathic medicine.
3
Nursing.
BILL: SB 874 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and
behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.
These functions include memory, language skills, visual perception, problem solving, self-
management, and the ability to focus and pay attention. Some people with dementia cannot
control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the
mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person's functioning, to the most severe stage,
when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.4
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease that begins
with mild memory loss and can lead to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond
to one’s environment. Alzheimer’s disease affects parts of the brain that control thought,
memory, and language. It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
Although scientists are studying the disease, the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown.5
There are an estimated 580,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease in the state of
Florida.6 By 2025, it is projected that 720,000 Floridians will have Alzheimer’s disease.7 Most
individuals with Alzheimer’s can live in the community with support, often provided by spouses
or other family members. In the late stages of the disease, many patients require care 24 hours
per day and are often served in long-term care facilities.
Dementia Care and Cure Initiative
The DOEA announced the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) in 2015 to engage
communities across the state to be more dementia-caring, promote better care for Floridians
affected by dementia, and support research efforts to find a cure. In collaboration with Florida’s
11 Area Agencies on Aging and 17 memory disorder clinics, participating DCCI communities
organize task forces consisting of community professionals and stakeholders who work to bring
about education, awareness of, and sensitivity regarding the needs of those affected by
dementia.8 The goals of the DCCI include:
Increasing awareness of dementia, services, and supports.
Providing assistance to dementia-caring communities.
Continuing advocacy for care and cure programs.9
4
What is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis, National Institute on Aging, available at
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis, (last visited Mar. 10, 2021).
5
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging website available at
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm#AlzheimersDisease, (last visited Mar. 10, 2021).
6
Alzheimer’s Association available at https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/florida-alzheimers-facts-figures-2018.pdf, (last
visited Mar. 10, 2021).
7
Id.
8
See http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/dcci.php (last visited March 10, 2021).
9
See http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/docs/dcci/DCCI_Info_Sheet.pdf (last visited March 10, 2021).
BILL: SB 874 Page 3
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
SB 874 creates s. 381.825, F.S., to require the DOH, in collaboration with the DOEA and the
Alzheimer’s Association, to use existing, relevant, public health, and community outreach
programs to incorporate and disseminate information to health care practitioners licensed under
chs. 458,10 459,11 and 464,12 F.S., to educate them on and increase their understanding and
awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The information must cover, at a
minimum:
The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment.
Utilization of a validated cognitive assessment tool.
The value of Medicare annual wellness visits for cognitive health.
The use of the Medicare billing code for care planning for individuals with cognitive
impairment.
Methods to detect early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Methods to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among individuals in diverse
communities who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of
dementia.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2021.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
10
Medicine.
11
Osteopathic medicine.
12
Nursing.
BILL: SB 874 Page 4
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 381.825 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.