The Fall Veto Session was marked by a flurry of activity on Alzheimer issues in a short time period―7 days. We should all be proud of our team effort because we were able to make changes to the existing policy that should benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease, their families, and caregivers in the future.  The issues are highlighted below. 

Assisted Living

Thank you advocates for all your letters of support to the Governor and legislators asking for full funding for assisted living complaint investigators and licensure inspectors.  Your efforts made a difference!  The Alzheimer’s Association was notified the investigators and inspectors will be hired, the Department of Public Health will aggressively go after facilities that are operating in violation of the law and the Governor will work with the assisted living workgroup members to secure full funding for licensure and enforcement in next year’s budget.

Medicaid Reimbursement
In a two-part victory, we were able to stop efforts to extend the hold-harmless period for the Medicaid nursing home rate and followed through with our support for the new Medicaid reimbursement rules to pass the rulemaking process at the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).  Thank you advocates for your calls to your legislators! The new Medicaid reimbursement tool is better at recognizing the care needed by people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and helping them to qualify for appropriate reimbursement.  We will continue to work on refining the tool to best meet the needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.

Illinois Legislative Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force
The first hearing of the Illinois Legislative Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force was Tuesday, November 18, 2003 in Springfield.  The State Departments that handle Alzheimer issues presented testimony.  The testimony was a review of the effect of the 1985 ‘Alzheimer’s Initiative,’ a package of bills enacted to address Alzheimer’s disease.  The three Alzheimer’s Disease Centers (SIU School of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and Northwestern University) gave testimony about the devastating effects on families when their funding was cut in half in a reduction veto by the Governor.  In an organized team effort, the Alzheimer’s Association, the three Alzheimer’s Disease Centers and dedicated family members were able to encourage the House and Senate to support an override of the Governor’s reduction veto thus restoring the Centers’ appropriation to full funding. Way to go!

The second task force hearing will be Wednesday, December 10, 2003 in Chicago at the James R. Thompson Center, Room 16-503.  The Alzheimer’s Association and people, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia will present testimony.  In addition, other groups that serve people with dementia will speak. Testimony presented at this meeting will address the continuum of care, financial barriers to essential care, and dementia training. 

Come and join us at the next task force hearing.  Invite your friends, family, co-workers and any other people you know who would be interested.  Let’s pack the room and show our support for the Illinois Legislative Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force and its mission.  While there will be limited time for oral testimony, your presence is very important and you will have an opportunity to sign-in as supporting the work of the task force.

All information shared at the task force hearings will be included in a final report that will be presented to the Illinois General Assembly early in 2004.  We will let everyone know when the report has been completed. 

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund

Over 200,000 Illinoisans have Alzheimer’s disease.  To address this issue, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund, established in 1985, has supported 118 Illinois projects in areas such as genetics, drug studies, financial impact and nursing and social interventions.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund is supported by contributions made by Illinois taxpayers through their annual income tax returns.

Please consider supporting Alzheimer’s disease research this tax season and check the box to give to this vital fund!  Without your support, there is no guarantee that this check off box will stay in existence.

For more information on these or other public policy related issues,
please contact Matt Keppler, Public Policy Director at (217) 726-5184
or visit the Advocacy page of our website.