BILL REQ. #:  S-3621.1 

Read first time 01/15/14.   Referred to Committee on Health Care .

     AN ACT Relating to developing a state Alzheimer's plan; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The department of health must convene an Alzheimer's disease working group that consists of the following members to be appointed by the department unless indicated otherwise:
     (1) At least one unpaid family caregiver of a person who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease;
     (2) At least one professional caregiver of a person who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease;
     (3) At least one person who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease;
     (4) A representative of nursing homes;
     (5) A representative of assisted living facilities;
     (6) A representative of adult day services;
     (7) A health care professional who treats people with Alzheimer's disease;
     (8) A psychologist who specializes in dementia care;
     (9) A person who conducts research on Alzheimer's disease;
     (10) A representative of the Alzheimer's association;
     (11) A representative of the Alzheimer society of Washington;
     (12) The governor or the governor's designee;
     (13) The secretary of the department of social and health services or the secretary's designee;
     (14) The secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee;
     (15) The director of the health care authority or the director's designee;
     (16) The long-term care ombuds or the ombuds' designee;
     (17) A member of the senate health care committee, appointed by the senate;
     (18) A member of the house of representatives health care and wellness committee, appointed by the house of representatives;
     (19) Five health policy advocates including representatives of the American association of retired persons, area agencies on aging, elder care alliance, and other advocates of the elderly or long-term care workers;
     (20) A representative of the University of Washington's Alzheimer's disease research center;
     (21) A member with experience in elder law or guardianship issues; and
     (22) A representative from the Washington state department of veterans affairs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The Alzheimer's disease working group established in section 1 of this act must examine the array of needs of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, services available to meet these needs, and the capacity of the state and current providers to meet these and future needs. The working group must consider and make recommendations and findings on the following:
     (1) Trends in the state's Alzheimer's population and service needs including, but not limited to:
     (a) The state's role in long-term care, family caregiver support, and assistance to persons with early-stage and early-onset of Alzheimer's disease;
     (b) State policy regarding persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia; and
     (c) Estimates of the number of persons in the state who currently have Alzheimer's disease and the current and future impacts of this disease in Washington;
     (2) Existing resources, services, and capacity including, but not limited to:
     (a) Type, cost, and availability of dementia services;
     (b) Dementia-specific training requirements for long-term care staff providing care to persons with Alzheimer's disease at all stages of the disease;
     (c) Quality care measures for assisted living facilities and nursing homes;
     (d) Availability of home and community-based resources for persons with Alzheimer's disease, including respite care;
     (e) Number and availability of long-term dementia units;
     (f) Adequacy and appropriateness of geriatric psychiatric units for persons with behavior disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia;
     (g) Assisted living residential options for persons with dementia; and
     (h) State support of Alzheimer's research through the Alzheimer's disease research center at the University of Washington; and
     (3) Needed policies or responses including, but not limited to, the provision of coordinated services and supports to persons and families living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia disorders, the capacity to meet these needs, and strategies to address identified gaps in services.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary or the secretary's designee must convene the first meeting and must serve as chair of the Alzheimer's disease working group. Meetings of the working group must be open to the public.
     (2) The department must submit a report providing the findings and recommendations of the Alzheimer's disease working group, including any draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the governor and the health care committees of the senate and the house of representatives by January 1, 2016.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act expires January 31, 2016.