Establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program for medical and non-medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, law enforcement personnel and social services personnel who work with older New Yorkers and their families.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5666
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, BARRETT, ZEBROWSKI, MONTESANO, McDO-
NOUGH, RA, JAFFEE, L. ROSENTHAL, COOK, MOSLEY, RAIA, GUNTHER, CUSICK,
COLTON, OTIS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, CROUCH, PALMES-
ANO, QUART -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing an
Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 2701-a to read as follows:
3 § 2701-a. Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program. 1. The
4 department, in consultation with the office for the aging, is hereby
5 authorized and directed to establish an Alzheimer's disease outreach and
6 education program for medical and non-medical professionals, including
7 physicians, nurses, law enforcement personnel and social services
8 personnel who work with older New Yorkers and their families, and for
9 consumers, caregivers and other individuals and organizations working
10 with or on behalf of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related demen-
11 tia. The purpose of such program shall be to:
12 (a) promote earlier identification of dementia in health care facili-
13 ties including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and
14 assisted living facilities;
15 (b) provide information and assistance on where to find community
16 support services, including caregiver support groups and services,
17 respite, care management and to serve as a clearinghouse for related
18 information; and
19 (c) promote public awareness of and access to resources and informa-
20 tion concerning Alzheimer's disease and any other dementia related
21 matters that the commissioner and director of the office for the aging
22 deem appropriate.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09506-01-9
A. 5666 2
1 2. The program shall include but shall not be limited to any of the
2 following elements:
3 (a) educational and informational materials in print, audio, visual,
4 electronic or other media;
5 (b) training curriculum including best practices for institutions of
6 higher learning and for ongoing in-service training;
7 (c) public service announcements and advertisements; and
8 (d) establishment of toll-free telephone hotlines and electronic
9 services to provide information.
10 3. In order to develop materials mentioned in this section, the
11 department shall produce, make available to others for reproduction, or
12 contract with not-for-profit corporations whose primary purpose is to
13 provide family intervention services related to Alzheimer's disease on a
14 statewide basis in order to postpone or prevent nursing home placements
15 of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. These mate-
16 rials shall be made available to the public free of charge as appropri-
17 ate or for a fee under certain circumstances. The commissioner may
18 require any health care provider to make these materials available to
19 patients where appropriate and encourage non-medical professionals to
20 make them available to the clients they serve.
21 4. In exercising any of his or her powers under this section, the
22 commissioner shall consult with appropriate health care professionals
23 and providers, senior service providers, organizations representing
24 persons with dementia or cognitive impairments, consumers and patients
25 or organizations representing them.
26 5. The commissioner shall ensure that all information and materials
27 produced under this section are maintained and updated to reflect best
28 practice recommendations and are culturally and linguistically appropri-
29 ate for the communities served by the Alzheimer's disease outreach and
30 education program. The department shall post electronic copies of
31 outreach material, including best practices, on its website. The office
32 for the aging shall post the same information on its website.
33 6. The commissioner may appoint advisory councils relating to various
34 matters under this section. All such councils shall include represen-
35 tation of health care professionals, providers, senior service provid-
36 ers, organizations representing persons with dementia or cognitive
37 impairments, consumers, patients and other appropriate interests. The
38 members of the councils shall receive no compensation for their
39 services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
40 incurred in performance of their duties.
41 7. In addition to state funds appropriated to administer this section,
42 the commissioner may accept grants from public or private sources. The
43 commissioner, in administering this section, shall seek to coordinate
44 the department's programs and activities under this section with other
45 public and private programs, and may undertake joint or cooperative
46 programs with other public or private entities.
47 8. The commissioner may make rules and regulations necessary and
48 appropriate for the implementation of this section.
49 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.