Article 4 - Alzheimer’s Disease

California Health and Safety Code — §§ 125275-125285

Sections (4)

Added by renumbering Section 412 (as amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 551) by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 134. Effective September 29, 1996.

(a)The Legislature finds that Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating disease which destroys certain vital cells of the brain, affects more than 1,500,000 Americans. The Legislature also finds that Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders are responsible for 50 percent of all nursing home admissions and Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth leading cause of death in adults. The Legislature recognizes that the disease has serious emotional, financial, and social consequences for its victims and their families.

(b)The Legislature recognizes that the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is presently unknown, and there is no established treatment which can cure, reverse, or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The Legislature also recognizes that research is the only hope for victims and families. The Legislature finds that existing diagnostic and treatment centers have improved the quality of care available to the victims of Alzheimer’s disease and increased knowledge with respect to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. These centers provide clinical opportunities for research and facilitate the collection of essential data regarding Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, while at the same time providing valuable services such as information and referral, counseling, and training to victims and their families. It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this article, to encourage the establishment of geographically dispersed diagnostic and treatment centers for Alzheimer’s disease within every postsecondary higher educational institution with a medical center, and to encourage research to discover the cause of, and a cure for, Alzheimer’s disease.

(c)The functions of the diagnostic and treatment centers shall be designed to serve all of the following purposes:

(1)To provide diagnostic and treatment services and improve the quality of care to victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

(2)To increase research by faculty and students in discovering the cause of, and a cure for, Alzheimer’s disease.

(3)To provide training, monitoring, consultation, and continuing education to the families of those who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

(4)To increase the training of health care professionals with respect to Alzheimer’s disease and other acquired brain impairments to the extent that the centers have the requisite expertise.

(d)The diagnostic and treatment centers may collaborate with the Statewide Resources Consultant designated pursuant to Section 4364 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to the extent that the centers deem necessary in order to fulfill the functions set forth in subdivision (c).

§ 125280

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1996.

(a)Any postsecondary higher educational institution with a medical center may establish diagnostic and treatment centers for Alzheimer’s disease subject to the department’s grants review process.

(b)The department shall administer grants to postsecondary higher educational institutions that establish diagnostic and treatment centers pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c)Funds appropriated for the purposes of this article by the Statutes of 1987 shall first be used to maintain and enhance, as determined by the department, existing centers and to prevent program cutbacks under subdivision (b).

(d)Alzheimer’s disease grants for the purpose of establishing a diagnostic and treatment center shall be used only for the purposes of this article, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1)Salary and benefits for faculty, residents, fellows, and staff of the diagnostic and treatment center.

(2)Costs of supplies and equipment.

(3)Research grants for faculty research to discover the cause of, and a cure for, Alzheimer’s disease.

(4)Research grants for students, residents, and fellows.

(5)General administrative costs of up to 8 percent of the total grant.

(e)The department shall establish criteria for requests for Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic and treatment center grants and Alzheimer’s disease research grants, and for program evaluation.

(f)No grant awarded pursuant to this article shall be approved for any amount that exceeds 25 percent of the total amount of funds appropriated for this purpose in the 1987–88 Regular Session of the Legislature.

(g)The department shall administer a grant program for the purpose of research into the causes, treatment, cure, strategies for coping with, prevention, incidence, and prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Priority shall be given to grant applications for feasibility studies, startup grants, and matching funds for federal and privately funded research grants. Consideration shall be given to proposals that link service delivery and collect data relative to patient care and the delivery of social services. This research may include, but is not limited to, examinations and recommendations for the improvement of the family, community-based and health care support systems available to Alzheimer’s disease victims, and their caregivers.

(h)Upon request, the department shall make available to the Legislature information regarding the progress of the grant programs established pursuant to this article.

(i)The department shall reduce any grant pursuant to this article by the amount of any federal funds available for the same purposes to the same grantee.

§ 125281

Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 30, Sec. 8. (SB 833) Effective June 27, 2016.

From funds appropriated to the department in the Budget Act of 2016 for these purposes, the department shall allocate funds to the diagnostic and treatment centers for Alzheimer’s disease established pursuant to Section 125280 to be used for all of the following purposes:

(a)To determine the standard of care in early and accurate diagnosis drawing on peer-reviewed evidence, best practices, Medicare and Medicaid policy and reimbursement, and experience working with patients seeking services at a center.

(b)To conduct targeted outreach to health professionals through medical school instruction, hospital grant rounds, continuing education, community education,

and free online resources.

(c)To provide low-cost, accessible detection and diagnosis tools that the center shall make available via open source portals of the postsecondary higher educational institution that established the center. Furthermore, the department shall post these tools on its Internet Web site to serve as a resource for the state.

(d)To endorse and disseminate low-cost, accessible detection and diagnosis tools for broad use by health professionals practicing in a variety of settings.

(e)To address unique health disparities that exist within diverse populations, with special focus and attention on reaching African Americans, Latinos, and women.

(f)To evaluate the educational effectiveness and measure the impact of these efforts,

including pretests and posttests for health professionals, metrics, and documented practice change.

§ 125285

Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 93, Sec. 35. Effective July 7, 2000.

The department shall provide public and professional education on Alzheimer’s disease to educate consumers, caregivers, and health care providers, and to increase public awareness. If the department determines that contracts are required to implement this section, the department may award these contracts on a sole source basis. The contracts shall not be subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the balance of funds appropriated pursuant to the Budget Act of 2000 for Alzheimer’s disease education shall be available for encumbrance and expenditure until June 30, 2003.