MA S468

Department of Public Health must develop a public awareness campaign on brain health and Alzheimer's disease, targeting diverse populations at higher risk, with biannual reporting to the Joint Committee on Public Health beginning January 1, 2027

Creates a Director of Dementia Care and Coordination position within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to implement the Alzheimer's Disease State Plan, coordinate services, and assess dementia training requirements biannually

Requires MassHealth Senior Care Options (SCO) and One Care plans to include Dementia Care Coordination services as a benefit, providing trained care consultants to develop individualized family care plans

Mandates 2 hours of initial dementia training plus 1 hour biannual in-service training for all law enforcement officers, state police, firefighters, and EMS personnel, covering symptom recognition, communication techniques, and abuse reporting protocols

Requires hospitals to submit dementia/delirium operational plans to the Department of Public Health by July 1, 2027 (updated every 5 years), and mandates that caregivers of dementia patients be allowed to remain with patients and be contacted upon admission and before discharge