A01526
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1082
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY LEWIS DELROSSO, HILL-EVANS, THOMAS, MOUL, FREEMAN,
RYAN, MILLARD, ZIMMERMAN, WHEELAND, DEASY, NEILSON, JOZWIAK
AND GILLEN, APRIL 19, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 19, 2021
AN ACT
Establishing an education program to assist in the early
detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Early
Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Other
Dementias Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Alzheimer's disease and other dementias." An irreversible
and progressive neurological disorder diagnosed by a physician
that has all of the following characteristics:
(1) The disorder causes cognitive decline and memory
impairment, behavioral and psychiatric problems and loss of
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the ability to care for oneself or a related disorder,
including vascular dementia, dementia with lewy bodies,
frontotemporal lobar degeneration or mixed dementia.
(2) The disorder is severe enough to interfere with work
or social activities and requires care or supervision.
"Certified registered nurse practitioner." A registered
nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified by the
State Board of Nursing in a particular clinical specialty area.
"Clinical nurse specialist." A registered nurse licensed in
this Commonwealth who is certified by the State Board of Nursing
as a clinical nurse specialist.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Physician." A medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy.
"Physician assistant." An individual who is licensed as a
physician assistant by the State Board of Medicine.
"Primary care workforce." Physicians, physician assistants,
certified registered nurse practitioners and clinical nurse
specialists delivering health care services to adult patients
with the detection, diagnosis, treatment and care planning
referral for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias.
"Primary care workforce education resources." The resources
established in section 3(a) (relating to primary care workforce
education resources).
"Toolkit." The Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's
Disease and Other Dementias toolkit established in section 4(a)
(relating to Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's
Disease and Other Dementias Toolkit).
Section 3. Primary care workforce education resources.
The department, in consultation with the Department of Aging
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and other public or private organizations with expertise in
cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias,
shall establish education resources to assist the primary care
workforce with the detection, diagnosis, treatment and care
planning referral for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and
other dementias. At a minimum, the primary care workforce
education resources shall include all of the following related
to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias:
(1) The importance of and value of early detection and
timely diagnosis.
(2) Increasing understanding and awareness of early
signs and symptoms.
(3) Person-centered care delivery.
(4) Cultural competency.
(5) Use of validated cognitive assessment tools to
detect cognitive decline as part of the annual Medicare
Wellness Visit or other annual physical examination.
(6) Sources of clinical practice guidelines and tools.
(7) Effective care planning, including treatment
options, support and services, long-term care options,
financial planning, advanced directives and care
coordination, at all stages of dementia, including
appropriate counseling and referral.
Section 4. Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
and Other Dementias toolkit.
(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish and
maintain an Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
and Other Dementias toolkit. The toolkit, at a minimum, shall
provide all of the following:
(1) Best practices and cognitive assessment tools,
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including the use of appropriate diagnostics, to assist the
primary care workforce in the detection, diagnosis, treatment
and care planning for individuals with Alzheimer's disease
and other dementias.
(2) Primary care workforce education resources
established in section 3(a) (relating to primary care
workforce education resources).
(b) Coordination and integration.--The department shall
coordinate and integrate the toolkit across health care sectors,
including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Managed care programs administered through the
Department of Human Services.
(2) Academic research institutions.
(3) State medical centers.
(4) Federally qualified health centers.
(5) Associations representing hospitals and health
systems.
(6) Organizations representing physicians and medical
students in Pennsylvania.
(7) Organizations representing the advancement of health
care and family physicians.
(8) Organizations representing the advancement of nurse
practitioners, health care professionals and health care
organizations.
(9) Organizations representing underserved communities
which may be disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer's
disease.
(9) (10) Any other public or private organization,
entity or part of an organization or entity the department
deems necessary.
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(c) Annual review.--The department shall review and update
the information on the toolkit established in subsection (a) to
reflect the most current and accurate information available on
an annual basis.
Section 5. Public awareness.
(a) Public information.--The department shall include and
make accessible on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website information relating to Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias information. The information, at a minimum, shall
include the following:
(1) Understanding cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease
and other dementias, including the difference between normal
cognitive aging and dementias.
(2) Early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias.
(3) The benefits of early detection and diagnosis.
(4) Importance of discussing cognition with health care
providers and tips on how to do so.
(5) Risk reduction behaviors to slow onset of cognitive
impairment, particularly among diverse communities who are at
greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
(b) Existing outreach programs.--The department shall
incorporate public information in subsection (a) into existing
relevant public health outreach programs administered by the
Department to promote understanding and awareness of Alzheimer's
disease and other dementias to the general public. Public
awareness information shall provide uniform, consistent guidance
in nonclinical terms, with an emphasis on cultural relevancy and
health literacy.
Section 6. Effective date.
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This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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