Bill Text: CA AB385 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Alzheimer’s disease: public awareness campaign.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB385 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB385-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 385
| Introduced by Assembly Member Ta |
February 02, 2023 |
An act to amend Section 125285 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to Alzheimer’s disease.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 385, as introduced, Ta.
Alzheimer’s disease: public awareness campaign.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to provide, or contract for the provision of, public and professional education on Alzheimer’s disease for consumers, caregivers, and health care providers.
This bill would require the department to implement a public awareness campaign, as specified, and include education for unpaid caregivers. The bill would also make related legislative findings and declarations.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) “California’s State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease: An Action Plan for 2011–2021” established as its first goal the elimination of stigma, recommending that California heighten public awareness through culturally appropriate public education campaigns.
(b) With 2.2 million Californians directly impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, the third leading cause of death in California, there is significant need to educate the population at risk of the disease in order to promote early detection and diagnosis.
(c) Recent data indicate that there is a significant
disparity in detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, resulting in misinformation and lack of information, which contribute to poor health outcomes, increased hospitalization and institutionalization, and higher public and private health care costs.
(d) California’s area agencies on aging are a critical network for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients, caregivers, and providers, offering assistance, information, referral, and support.
(e) Consumers, caregivers, and providers identify stigma as a barrier to accessing early detection and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Overcoming stigma is key to reducing the disparity in detection and diagnosis. Rates of detection and diagnosis are even worse among populations at greater risk, with higher rates of prevalence for African Americans, Latinos, and women.
(f) Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease are critical for improving health outcomes, lowering health care costs, and ensuring access to beneficial interventions, including care plans, education, and support, that are set forth in the latest edition of the California “Alzheimer’s Clinical Care Guideline” published by the State Department of Public Health.
(g) In 2013, unpaid caregivers in California provided 4,140,000,000 hours of care, worth an estimated $57 billion, for their loved ones.
SEC. 2.
Section 125285 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:125285.
(a) The department shall provide public and professional education through a public awareness campaign on Alzheimer’s disease to educate consumers, caregivers,(b) In implementing the public awareness campaign on Alzheimer’s disease as described in subdivision (a), the department shall be informed by its latest edition of the California “Alzheimer’s Clinical Care Guideline.”
