Pennsylvania needs an Alzheimer’s office
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 840 and House Bill 2400 have passed their respective chambers, each receiving bipartisan support. But both have stalled.
SB840 is with the House Health Committee, while HB2400 has yet to be referred to a Senate committee. Each has the potential to drastically improve the commonwealth’s ability to address the Alzheimer’s crisis with the creation of an Alzheimer’s Diseases and Related Dementia (ADRD) office.
The state’s approach to the dementia crisis has fallen short, with implementation of the 2014 state plan being woefully incomplete-we are so close to changing that. Pennsylvanians need House and Senate leadership to come together on this issue, which directly impacts constituents. Gov. Josh Shapiro prioritized this issue, and proposed a $1.9 million appropriation to establish and fund an ADRD infrastructure. This needs to be funded now.
On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, and all Pennsylvanians, I urge state Sen. Camera Bartolotta and state Rep. Tim O’Neal to advance this to fully fund the $1.9 million appropriation, and to report SB840 and HB2400 out of committee for floor vote.
A path forward falls directly to Senate and House Leadership – this is an opportunity that transcends politics, to chart a course for the betterment of Pennsylvania.
Clay Jacobs
Harrisburg
Clay Jacobs is the executive director of the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.