Bill Text: VA HJR544 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Alzheimer's Disease; Joint Commission on Health, etc., to study treatment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-07 - Left in Rules [HJR544 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HJR544-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, according to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease affects 150,000 Virginia residents over the age of 65; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease detrimentally affects the quality of life of those persons who suffer from it; and
WHEREAS, caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease often bear a significant physical, emotional, and financial burden; and
WHEREAS, effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease can alleviate its effects on those persons with the disease and those persons in their community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Commission on Health Care and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission be directed to study the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care (the Joint Commission) and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission (the ADRD Commission) shall analyze the following as they relate to the treatment of and medication for patients with Alzheimer's disease: (i) continuing medical education requirements for physicians; (ii) public health education for patients and caregivers; (iii) Commonwealth Alzheimer's disease plans and the inclusion of the latest treatment and medication in such plans; (iv) access to screening and diagnostic tools and coverage of such tools by insurance plans; (v) access to therapeutics and coverage of such therapeutics by insurance plans; and (vi) Medicaid coverage for drugs approved through the federal Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval pathway.
The Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall provide administrative staff support. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the Joint Commission and the ADRD Commission. Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Commission and the ADRD Commission by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Commission and the ADRD Commission for this study, upon request.
The Joint Commission and the ADRD Commission shall complete their meetings by November 30, 2023, and the chairmen shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Joint Commission and the ADRD Commission intend to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of their findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
