State Rep. Julie Mayberry Files Alzheimer’s Bill
State and public school employees' insurance would cover dementia-related diseases under proposed bill
Republican State Rep. Julie Mayberry of Hensley filed her first bill as lead sponsor Tuesday for the upcoming 2025 legislative session.
Her bill concerns Alzheimer’s disease.
The bill would “establish coverage diagnosis and treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia-related disease under the state and public school life and health insurance program; and for other purposes.”
The bill states “Alzheimer's disease is the seventh leading cause of death in Arkansas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
The cost of managing the complications of late-stage Alzheimer's disease, largely due to delayed diagnosis and access to treatment, outweighs the cost of expeditious and effective treatment; dementia-related disease should be a clinical decision made by a physician based on evidence-based guidelines: and The United States Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for treatments of patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.”
The bill continues “it is the intent of the General Assembly to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia-related disease.
Each state employee's and public school employee's health benefit plan under the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program that is offered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, shall offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia-related disease as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.”
Read the bill here:
Would be nice if this could help everyone not just government workers
Treatment of alzeimers is a vague statement that could cost the state millions per patient. How about cutting stuff instead of expanding stuff. Other peoples money, right?