Maryland SB 313: Maryland Department of Health - Public Health Outreach Programs - Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, and Other Types of Dementia

Bill Text

LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 350

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Chapter 350
(Senate Bill 313)

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Department of Health – Public Health Outreach Programs – Cognitive
Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Other Types of Dementia

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health, in partnership with the
Department of Aging, the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related
Disorders Council, and the Greater Maryland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s
Association, to incorporate certain information regarding cognitive impairment,
Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia into relevant public health
outreach programs administered by the Maryland Department of Health; and
generally relating to public health outreach programs administered by the Maryland
Department of Health.

BY adding to
Article – Health – General
Section 18–110
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2020 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article – Health – General

18–110.

THE DEPARTMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING, THE
VIRGINIA I. JONES ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS COUNCIL,
AND THE GREATER MARYLAND CHAPTER OF THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION,
SHALL INCORPORATE INFORMATION INTO RELEVANT PUBLIC HEALTH OUTREACH
PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO:

(1) EDUCATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS REGARDING:

(I) THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION AND TIMELY
DIAGNOSIS OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT;

(II) VALIDATED ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR THE DETECTION AND
DIAGNOSIS OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT;

Ch. 350 2021 LAWS OF MARYLAND

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(III) THE VALUE OF A MEDICARE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT OR
OTHER ANNUAL PHYSICAL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AT LEAST 65 YEARS OLD FOR
COGNITIVE HEALTH; AND

(IV) THE MEDICARE CARE PLANNING BILLING CODE FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT; AND

(2) INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF:

(I) THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND
OTHER TYPES OF DEMENTIA;

(II) THE VALUE OF EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND OTHER TYPES OF DEMENTIA; AND

(III) HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF COGNITIVE DECLINE,
PARTICULARLY AMONG INDIVIDUALS IN BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES WHO
ARE AT GREATER RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND OTHER TYPES
OF DEMENTIA.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2021.

Approved by the Governor, May 18, 2021.