The 2024 Florida legislative session has come to an end with major wins for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. None of this would have been possible without the amazing work of advocates across the state!
Legislative Wins
The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Training for Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers (HB 801/ SB 208) passed unanimously in both chambers and was signed by the Governor in April. This critical bill creates an Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) continuing education course available for not only law enforcement officers, but correctional and correctional probation officers as well. This course will help officers recognize behavioral symptoms, identify signs of abuse or neglect, and how to interact effectively with people who have dementia.
Six in ten people with dementia will wander throughout their journey. As dementia progresses, it can become increasingly difficult for affected individuals to recognize familiar places or remember personal details such as their name or address, which increases the likelihood of interacting with law enforcement. This course will help to equip law enforcement officers with the tools they need to properly communicate with and assist those living with dementia, especially in a crisis situation.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to advocates CherylAnn Haley, Priscilla Jean Louis, and Kaylin Jean Louis for testifying on behalf of this bill! It will go into law Oct. 1, 2024.
Coverage for Biomarker Testing (HB 885/ SB 964) also passed and is awaiting the Governor’s signature! Access to biomarker testing is important because it supports the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This legislature will help to reduce the time it takes to get a diagnosis, which will provide individuals with more options for treatments, trials and care planning. The bill was amended to only apply to those on Medicaid or state employee health insurance plans.
Budget Victories
We are proud to announce that the Alzheimer’s Association Brain Bus has secured full funding at $491,614! This will allow the Association to continue traveling statewide to share information and resources to underserved populations in all of Florida’s 67 counties.
The Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI) received an increase of $6 million, bringing funding to a total of $71 million. This initiative helps to provide vital support services for those affected by Alzheimer’s or related memory disorders and provides respite for caregivers. This funding will help to sustain these services and reduce the waitlist, which currently has over 17,000 people.
The Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) Program received an increase of $6 million, $1 million more than the original ask, bringing the total funding to $109.5 million. This program provides community-based services to elders with functional impairments to live in the least restrictive and most cost-effective environment that is suitable to their needs. This funding will help to sustain the goods and services provided to eligible individuals and will help to reduce the waitlist, which currently has over 82,000 people.
The Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Research Program received a $1.5 million increase, bringing the total funding for the program to $6.5 million. Alzheimer’s research funding as a whole totaled $17.5 million. This research is important for understanding more about Alzheimer’s including possible links and causes, and to work towards developing new treatments, clinical trials and a potential cure. Alzheimer’s saw historic funding totalling $91 million this year!
We want to thank all of our advocates who worked hard to push these priorities by speaking at delegation meetings, attending Rally in Tally, sending emails and taking to social media! It’s because of your efforts that Florida continues to move the needle forward in advancing Alzheimer’s policies and funding.
For anyone interested in learning more about the session, check out our 2024 FL Legislative Post Session Report. To learn more about you can join our state advocacy efforts, email jbraisted@alz.org.
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Wonderful! Plenty of $$$ for research. Now might be the time to review: 1) WHAT RESEARCH? 2) Who is doing it, what are they looking at? 3) Where is it being done? 4) Who coordinates efforts and peer judges papers? 5) Where and when do we see actual research activity and results, progress? etc
The Ed and Ethel Moore Research program received $ 6.5 million. You can learn more about what projects are being awarded at https://www.floridahealth.gov/provider-and-partner-resources/research/funding-opportunity-announcements/alzheimersfoa.html
They fund many different projects focused on caregiving, pathology, etc.
Also, the University of Florida did receive funding as well to fuel projects regarding therapeutics. Finally, private entities working on specific programs were funded as well.