AN ACT directing the department of health and human services, division of aging and adult services, to partner with the dementia‑capable north carolina task force and the NORTH CAROLINA BRANCH OF THE alzheimer's association to enhance public outreach and education on (i) ALZHEIMER'S disease and other RELATED dementiaS and (ii) the importance of early detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, shall partner with the Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (also known as the Dementia‑Capable North Carolina Task Force) and the North Carolina Branch of the Alzheimer's Association to incorporate into existing, relevant public health outreach programs information and messaging designed to do both of the following:

(1)        Educate healthcare providers about the following:

a.         The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of a patient's cognitive impairment.

b.         The importance of validated cognitive assessment tools to detect and diagnose a patient's cognitive impairment.

c.         The Medicare annual wellness visit, which requires assessment of a patient's cognitive impairment.

d.         The availability of Medicare coverage for the performance of a more detailed cognitive assessment of a Medicare patient and the development of a care plan for that patient upon detection of a cognitive impairment during the Medicare annual wellness visit or other routine visit, and the corresponding Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code.

(2)        Increase public awareness and understanding about the following:

a.         Early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias.

b.         The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment.

c.         How to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias.

SECTION 1.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to implement subsection (a) of this section.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.