Section 6A:16AA - [Multiple versions] Creation and maintenance of integrated state plan to address and assist in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; advisory council on Alzheimer's disease research and treatment(a) The executive office of health and human services shall develop and carry out an assessment of all state programs that address Alzheimer's disease, and shall create and maintain an integrated state plan to address and assist in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The state plan shall include implementation steps and recommendations for priority actions based on the assessment. The purposes of the state plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (i) accelerating the development of treatments that would prevent, halt or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease; (ii) coordinating the health care and treatment of individuals with Alzheimer's disease; (iii) ensuring the inclusion of ethnic and racial populations who have a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease or are less likely to receive care in clinical, research and service efforts, with the goal of decreasing health disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease; (iv) coordinating with federal agencies and programs to integrate and inform the fight against Alzheimer's disease; (v) providing information and coordination of Alzheimer's disease research and services across all state agencies; and (vi) implementing a strategy to increase the diagnostic rate for Alzheimer's disease.(b)(1) There shall be an advisory council on Alzheimer's disease research and treatment. The advisory council shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee; the secretary of elder affairs, or a designee; the commissioner of public health, or a designee; the secretary of veterans' services, or a designee; the director of the office of Medicaid, or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs, or their designees; and 10 persons to be appointed by the governor, including 2 Alzheimer's disease patient advocates, 2 Alzheimer's disease caregivers, 2 health care providers, 2 researchers with Alzheimer's-related expertise in basic, translational, clinical or drug development science and 2 voluntary health association representatives, including 1 representative from a state Alzheimer's disease organization that funds research and has demonstrated experience in care and patient services and 1 representative from a state-based advocacy organization that provides services to families and professionals, including information and referral, support groups, care consultation, education and safety services.(2) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly and shall advise the executive office of health and human services and the General Court on the development of Alzheimer's disease policy for the commonwealth. The advisory council shall work with the secretary of health and human services to determine the number of people diagnosed each year with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, regardless of age, and shall identify resources available and services needed for these individuals and associated costs.(3) Annually, not later than March 1, the advisory council shall provide a report to the executive office of health and human services and the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives which shall include: (i) information and recommendations on Alzheimer's disease policy; (ii) an evaluation of all state-funded efforts in Alzheimer's disease research, clinical care, institutional, home-based and community-based programs; (iii) the outcomes of those efforts; and (iv) any proposed updates to the state plan, which the advisory council shall review annually.Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6A, § 16AA
Added by Acts 2018, c. 220,§ 1, eff. 11/7/2018.