Relating to Alzheimer’s and related dementias including establishing an advisory council and developing and implementing an Iowa Alzheimer’s and related dementias state plan

This bill relates to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to establish a multidisciplinary advisory council to develop an Iowa Alzheimer’s and related dementias state plan including an implementation timeline that ensures the state has a coordinated, ongoing, state-specific response to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The department shall provide administrative support to the council. The bill specifies the membership of the multidisciplinary advisory council including all of the following or a designee: the director of HHS, the executive director of the Alzheimer’s association, the chairperson of the commission on aging, the executive director of the Iowa association of area agencies on aging, and the executive director of the Iowa public health association. The advisory council members also include all of the following appointed by the governor chosen for their expertise or experience in one of the following fields: a provider of residential, health care, or personal care services to persons living with dementia; a social gerontologist or clinical researcher working in an educational or clinical setting with expertise in dementia; an advocate with a nonprofit organization whose role is to improve services for older adults or those living with dementia; a medical professional with an active practice specializing in geriatrics, neurology, or other field closely related to dementia; a caregiver, current or past, for a family member with dementia who has experience navigating health care service options; and a person who has been diagnosed with dementia. The bill provides the details of membership and organization, and for the frequency of meetings of the council. The bill specifies the duties of the council including developing an Iowa Alzheimer’s and related dementias state plan incorporating the work that was funded by a federal Building our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act grant to build, sustain, and grow public health capacity to address Alzheimer’s, dementia, cognitive health, and dementia caregiving across the state; reviewing and making recommendations regarding progress toward the goals of the state plan and progress in implementing resources and services to serve persons with dementia-related diseases around Iowa in the future, including: examining current laws, rules and regulations, and policies of the various agencies that interact with services for persons with dementia and making recommendations to improve the navigation of and provision of care services for persons with dementia and their caregivers; proposing legislative or administrative changes to policies and programs needed for furtherance of the state plan; examining available state and federal funding and determining how to ensure the most efficient and effective use of available resources to fund the state plan; and locating and assisting departments or partner agencies in applying for new funding sources and new opportunities in furtherance of the goals of the state plan. Beginning January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the advisory council shall submit a report to the governor and the general assembly summarizing, for the prior year, the work of the advisory council, the progress made on implementing the state plan, and any recommendations including any amendments to the state plan.