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Panel backs laying over bill to create dementia program manager at Minnesota Department of Health
Summary
House File 794 would establish a dementia services program manager at the Minnesota Department of Health to coordinate services for people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias; the committee adopted an A-1 amendment and laid the bill over after bipartisan testimony of need.
The Health Finance and Policy Committee on March 17 adopted an A-1 amendment to House File 794 and laid the bill over; HF 794 would create a dementia services program manager position at the Minnesota Department of Health to coordinate state and local dementia services.
Representative Nadeau introduced the bipartisan measure and said Minnesota families lack a single point of leadership to align services and eliminate redundancies across state, county and local programs. "Every one of us knows someone whose life has been touched by dementia," he said, emphasizing that the job would improve connections among existing services rather than create a stand-alone bureaucracy.
Robert Freeman, vice president of public policy for the Alzheimer's Association (Minnesota and North Dakota chapter), testified in support and cited Department of Health estimates that more than 100,000 Minnesotans live with dementia and that Minnesota spends about $1 billion a year on related care. Freeman told the committee 29 other states have already created comparable positions and that a state-level coordinator can help align federal, state and philanthropic funding and improve access to new treatments.
Members asked how the position would prioritize activities and whether it would leverage existing programs in regions. Representative Bierman asked about top priorities; Freeman suggested reducing duplication of helplines and ensuring equitable access to emerging treatments and detection efforts. Vice Chair Nadeau closed by tying the bill to Minnesota's 2022 strategic plan on cognitive health and said the position would help families understand care trajectories and available resources.
The chair laid HF 794 over as amended for possible omnibus inclusion; committee discussion did not record a final floor recommendation.
Votes and motions: A-1 amendment adopted by voice vote and HF 794 laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.
