2019 -- S 0223

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LC001120

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM WITHIN THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Coyne, Lynch Prata, Miller, McCaffrey, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 1.7

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THE RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

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     23-1.7-1. Duties -- Director of the department of health.

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     The director of the department of health shall develop and carry out an assessment of all

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state programs that address Alzheimer's disease and shall maintain and annually update the Rhode

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Island state plan for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, and promulgate rules and

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regulations to implement the purpose of this chapter.

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     23-1.7-2. Creation of advisory council.

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     (a) There is hereby established a council to be called the "Advisory Council on

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Alzheimer's Disease Research and Treatment." The advisory council shall consist of thirteen (13)

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members to be composed as follows: the lieutenant governor, or designee; the director of the

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department of health, or designee; the director of the division of elderly affairs, or designee; the

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chairperson of the long-term care coordinating council; one member appointed by the speaker of

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the house; one member appointed by the president of the senate; and seven (7) members

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appointed by the governor. The members appointed by the governor shall include one member

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who is an Alzheimer's disease patient advocate; one member who is an Alzheimer's disease

 

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caregiver; one member who is a health care provider; one member who is a researcher with

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Alzheimer's-related expertise in basic, translational, clinical or drug development science; one

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member who is a representative from an Alzheimer's disease organization that funds research and

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has demonstrated experience in care and patient services; one member from an Alzheimer's

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advocacy organization that provides services to families and professionals, including information

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and referrals, support groups, care consultation, education and safety services; and one member

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who is a representative of a health care insurer. Advisory council members shall select their own

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chairperson. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum.

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     (b) The member appointed by the speaker of the house, the member appointed by the

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president of the senate, and three (3) members appointed by the governor shall be initially

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appointed for a term to expire July 1, 2020, and four (4) members to be appointed by the governor

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shall be initially appointed for a term to expire July 1, 2021. After the initial term, the appointed

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members shall serve two (2) year terms, until their successor is appointed.

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     23-1.7-3. Advisory council responsibility.

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     (a) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly and shall advise the governor,

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speaker of the house and president of the senate on developments and advances on the diagnosis,

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treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

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     (b) In coordination with the department of health, the advisory council shall determine

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the number of residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease to ascertain the number of residents

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diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, regardless of age.

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     (c) The advisory council shall identify available resources and services needed for the

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treatment and care of residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

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     (d) Annually, not later than March 1, the advisory council shall provide a report to the

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director of the department of health with a copy to the governor, the speaker of the house and the

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president of the senate which shall include:

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     (1) Information and recommendations on Alzheimer's disease policy;

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     (2) An evaluation of all state-funded efforts in Alzheimer's disease research, clinical care,

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institutional, home-based and community-based programs; and

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     (3) Recommended amendments, updates and changes to the state plan for Alzheimer's

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disease and related disorders.

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     23-1.7-4. Assessment protocol.

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     (a) The director of the department of health shall establish and publish an Alzheimer's

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disease assessment protocol specifically focused on recognizing the signs and symptoms of

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cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease and appropriate resource

 

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information for effective medical screening, investigation and service planning.

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     (b) The director of the department of health shall make available upon request a copy of

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the assessment protocol to protective services caseworkers, health care professionals and

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members of the public.

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     (c) Protective services caseworkers assigned to or employed by the department of elderly

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affairs shall be familiar with the information contained in the assessment protocol.

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     23-1.7-5. Medical professional training.

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     (a) All physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5, and nurses licensed pursuant

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to chapter 34 of title 5, shall, no later than October 1, 2021, complete a one-time course of

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training consisting of a minimum of one hour of instruction on the diagnosis, treatment and care

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of patients with cognitive impairments including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease and

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dementia.

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     (b) The department of health shall promulgate rules to implement the training

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requirement of subsection (a) of this section.

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     23-1.7-6. Health care facility plan.

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     (a) Every health care facility as defined in ยง 23-7-2 shall, not later than October 1, 2021,

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complete and implement an operational plan for the recognition and management of patients with

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Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

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     (b) The department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the

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operational plan requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM WITHIN THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

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     This act would establish the Rhode Island program to address Alzheimer's disease and

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would also create a thirteen (13) member advisory council. This act would also establish a

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training requirement for medical professionals.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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