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Committee hears bipartisan bills to create statewide dementia care coordinator
Summary
Lawmakers and advocates told the House Committee on Health and Mental Health that a single, full-time dementia coordinator could improve navigation of services for people with dementia and their caregivers. Witnesses cited state cost figures, caregiver counts and a fiscal note of about $189,007 for the first year.
The House Committee on Health and Mental Health held a public hearing on legislation to establish a statewide dementia care coordinator, with sponsors presenting two related House bills together.
Representatives Travis Wilson (District 106) and Kerry Engel (House District 35) told the committee the coordinator would centralize information, chair a task force and work across agencies to streamline dementia services and outreach.
The bills’ backers said Missouri faces a growing need. "An estimated 122,000 Missourians age 65 and older are currently living with dementia," Representative Kerry Engel said. She added that about "223,000 Missourians" provide care to people with Alzheimer's or related dementias and that state Medicaid spending related to that population…
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