HB 254: Increase education, awareness of Alzheimer's disease and dementia
The bill aims to increase education, awareness, and understanding of cognitive impairment, alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia. The department of health, in coordination with other organizations, will incorporate awareness information into public health outreach. This information will focus on topics such as early warning signs, reducing risk factors, early detection, and assessment tools for detection and diagnosis. The bill also emphasizes the importance of annual physicals for individuals sixty-five years of age and older to monitor cognitive health. Additionally, the bill encourages the dissemination of healthy lifestyle materials and initiatives to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
| May. 07, 2025 | Referred to committee: Health |
| May. 06, 2025 | Introduced |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
2025-2026
Representatives Baker, Hoops
To enact section 3701.147 of the Revised Code to increase education, awareness, and understanding of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 3701.147 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3701.147.
(A) The department of health, in coordination with the department of aging, the commission on minority health, and community organizations focusing on Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia awareness, shall incorporate awareness information into relevant public health outreach conducted by the department of health.
(B) The parties described in division (A) of this section shall design the information to educate and increase awareness and understanding among health care providers, community organizations, and the general public on the following topics related to cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia:
- Early warning signs;
- The value of reducing risk factors of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, including through conducting healthy brain initiatives and disseminating healthy lifestyle materials;
- The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis;
- How to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among individuals from broad cultural, ethnic, racial, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and those disproportionately affected by dementia who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia;
- Assessment tools for detection and diagnosis;
- The importance of an annual Medicare wellness visit or other annual physical for individuals sixty-five years of age and older for cognitive health, including the Medicare plan billing code for treatment relating to cognitive impairment.