Former Alzheimer’s working group should be revived, advocates say

An estimated 91,000 Minnesotans are at least 65 years old and living with Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to increase to 120,000 by 2025 as baby boomers continue to age.

“Alzheimer’s is currently the sixth leading cause of death in Minnesota and the only one in the top 10 with no means to prevent, to cure, or even to slow the progression of the disease,” Beth McMullen, vice president of government affairs for the Alzheimer's Association, told the House Subcommittee on Aging and Long Term Care Wednesday. “It’s critical that we manage the impacts.”

Rep. Debra Kiel

HF262 would revive the Alzheimer's Disease Working Group established by the 2009 Legislature to examine trends and disparities in the Alzheimer’s population, find ways to reduce risk and finance long-term care and compare home, community-based, and residential care.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Debra Kiel (R-Crookston), chair of the subcommittee, was approved as amended and referred to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee. Its companion, SF120, sponsored by Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), awaits action by the Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee.

The working group produced a report titled “Preparing Minnesota for Alzheimer's: the Budgetary, Social and Personal Impacts” and made a series of recommendations in 2011 before disbanding.  The plan needs to be updated to account for policy changes at the state and federal level as well as advances in research and public awareness, McMullen said.

The bill would require the group to provide an updated report to the governor and Legislature every four years. The first report would be due Jan. 15, 2018.

Rep. Liz Olson (DFL-Duluth) said she hopes the subcommittee would “seriously” consider any future recommendations and budget requests made by the working group.

“Oftentimes we get excited about working groups … but when it comes to making the hardest decisions around the recommendations, that’s when we fall short,” she said.