Legislation introduced by Speaker of the House Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, that creates a dementia awareness and early detection campaign and builds healthcare capacity to meeting the growing number of dementia cases in Alaska has passed the Legislature and awaits the governor’s signature.
House Bill 308 focuses on individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease, a form of dementia that accounts for some 8,500 of Alaska’s 12,500 dementia cases and other forms of dementia as well.
By 2024, health officials anticipate the number of dementia cases to increase to about 11,000.
“Dementia is a growing problem that affects more and more Alaskans every day,” Stutes said.“This bill creates a dedicated program within the department to address early detection and diagnosis, as well as build the healthcare infrastructure needed for the best quality of life for our loved ones. I am thrilled with the passage of this legislation.”
As a consequence of the rapid growth of Alzheimer’s in Alaska, Medicaid costs of caring for residents with Alzheimer’s is expected to climb by 44.6%, the highest increase in the nation and is more than double the average projected increase of 20.2%.
A timely diagnosis is the first step in ensuring that anyone living with this disease can benefit from future treatments, care planning and clinical trials. Manu Alaskans with dementia have yet to receive a formal diagnosis. Health are officials said capacity for in and out-of-home care is also critical to assist individuals and families affected by this disease.
