Legislation to Comprehensively Address Alzheimer's Disease in Ohio Passes Unanimously
Establishes Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Task Force
April 10, 2019
Steve Wilson News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Steve Wilson (R-Maineville) today announced the unanimous Senate passage of Senate Bill 24, which establishes a State Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias Task Force charged with developing a comprehensive, state action plan to prepare for the growing impact of dementia-related diseases.
Earlier this year, Wilson held a press conference with joint-sponsor Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) at the Ohio Statehouse to outline specifics of the plan.
The Task Force will gather information on everything from detection and diagnosis to quality of care, training, health care system capacity, fiscal impact, research, public awareness and more.
They will then produce a written report of recommendations and determine action steps moving forward. The goal is to explore the current impact of dementia-related diseases in Ohio and recommend steps the state can take over the next five to ten years that will improve its services and support for patients and their families.
"While it is shocking that we are the only state in the nation who does not already have a plan, we have the benefit of being able to look to others' successes and failures to determine what is best for Ohio when addressing this public health crisis," said Wilson. "It was an honor to sponsor this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes that will result."
An estimated 5.7 million Americans, including 220,000 Ohioans, currently live with these diseases. For each patient, two to three caregivers also need support, which represents nearly one million Ohioans impacted by dementia. Some estimates predict these numbers will nearly triple by 2050, making it one of the greatest threats to our state's overburdened health care system.
Treatment costs alone stand at an estimated $259 billion annually, more than half of which comes from taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid programs. Unless something is done, Alzheimer's care will cost an estimated $1.1 trillion a year by 2050, and nearly one in every three Medicare dollars will be spent on Alzheimer's patients.
These numbers are staggering, especially for Ohio, where nearly a quarter of our residents will be 65 or older in less than two decades.
To learn more about Senate Bill 24, click here.
"While it is shocking that we are the only state in the nation who does not already have a plan, we have the benefit of being able to look to others' successes and failures to determine what is best for Ohio when addressing this public health crisis," said Wilson. "It was an honor to sponsor this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes that will result."
An estimated 5.7 million Americans, including 220,000 Ohioans, currently live with these diseases. For each patient, two to three caregivers also need support, which represents nearly one million Ohioans impacted by dementia. Some estimates predict these numbers will nearly triple by 2050, making it one of the greatest threats to our state's overburdened health care system.
Treatment costs alone stand at an estimated $259 billion annually, more than half of which comes from taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid programs. Unless something is done, Alzheimer's care will cost an estimated $1.1 trillion a year by 2050, and nearly one in every three Medicare dollars will be spent on Alzheimer's patients.
These numbers are staggering, especially for Ohio, where nearly a quarter of our residents will be 65 or older in less than two decades.
To learn more about Senate Bill 24, click here.