2022 -- H 8258

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LC005770

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Ackerman, McNamara, Hull, Diaz, and
Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: May 18, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     (Dept. of Health/Lieutenant Governor)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-1.7-2, 23-1.7-4, 23-1.7-5 and 23-1.7-6 of the General Laws in

Chapter 23-1.7 entitled "Rhode Island Program to Address Alzheimer's Disease" are hereby

amended to read as follows:

     23-1.7-2. Creation of advisory council.

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

Disease Research and Treatment and related disorders." The advisory council shall consist of

thirteen (13) nineteen (19) members to be composed as follows: the lieutenant governor, or

designee; the director of the department of health, or designee; the director of the office of healthy

aging, or designee; the chairperson of the long-term care coordinating council; three (3) members

appointed by the lieutenant governor, one of whom shall be appointed solely by the lieutenant

governor without reference to any list; one of whom shall be appointed and selected from a list of

five (5) names of individuals submitted by the speaker of the house, with two (2) individuals having

experience as caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and reflecting

diverse backgrounds, including diversity in race and ethnicity; one of whom shall be appointed and

selected from a list of five (5) names of individuals submitted by the president of the senate, with

two (2) individuals having experience as caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related

disorders and reflecting diverse backgrounds, including race and ethnicity; one member appointed

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

ten (10) members appointed by the governor. The members appointed by the governor shall include

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

disease caregiver; one member who is a healthcare provider; one member who is a researcher with

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

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

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

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

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

is a representative from an organization focused on Alzheimer's workforce development; one

member who is a representative from the long-term care industry; one member who will represent

the adult primary care community; and one member who is a representative of a healthcare insurer.

Advisory council members shall select their own chairperson. Seven (7) Ten (10) members shall

constitute a quorum.

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

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

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

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

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

     23-1.7-4. Assessment protocol.

     (a) The director of the department of health shall establish and publish on their website an

Alzheimer's disease assessment protocol specifically focused on recognizing the signs and

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

appropriate resource information for effective medical screening, investigation, and service

planning.

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

the assessment protocol to protective-services caseworkers, healthcare professionals, and members

of the public.

     (c) Protective-services caseworkers assigned to or employed by the office of healthy aging

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

     23-1.7-5. Medical professional training.

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

to chapter 34 of title 5, shall, no later than October 1, 2021 2023, complete a one-time course of

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

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

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dementia related disorders.

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

of subsection (a).

     23-1.7-6. Healthcare facility plan.

     (a) Every healthcare facility as defined in § 23-17-2 shall, not later than October 1, 2021

2023, complete and implement an operational plan for the recognition and management of patients

with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and related disorders.

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

operational plan requirements of subsection (a).

     (c) The director of the department of health, in consultation with the advisory council on

Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, shall determine which health care facilities defined in §

23-17-2 will be subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005770

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

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     This act would amend the composition of the "Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Disease

Research and Treatment" to include six (6) additional members and would rename the council the

"Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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