Sen. Stabenow Introduces New Bill Aimed at Improving Care for Alzheimer's Patients

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has proposed a new bill to help families across the United States dealing with Alzheimer's disease, reports TV6 . She said the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act would help the 95 percent of people with dementia who also have one or more other chronic ailments. The bipartisan legislation is expected to cut medical complications by establishing a new funding channel for dementia care via Medicare. The new model can help lower hospitalizations and emergency department visits and possibly delay placement in nursing communities. Among the bill's provisions is comprehensive care management services, including monitoring additional health conditions, medication management, and care coordination; high care standards established by assessing the quality of care provided to patients; elimination of cost-sharing for patients and monthly sums for providers based on the complexity and quality of the patient's care; guarantees that caregivers are supported and can participate in the coordination and management of care; and mandatory outreach to underrepresented populations.