Bill to create dementia services coordinator at Department of Health moves forward after unanimous committee action

The House Health Finance and Policy Committee on March 17 adopted an A1 amendment and laid over House File 794, bipartisan legislation to create a dementia services program at the Minnesota Department of Health with a named program manager.

Representative Nadeau, the bill’s sponsor, said Minnesota lacks a single state-level official focused on dementia and Alzheimer's services. “Families deserve someone who's paying attention, someone who understands a fuller picture, and work proactively to make sure that the programs that we currently have connect in a way that makes sense,” Nadeau said.

Robert Freeman, vice president for public policy at the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota chapter, testified in support and cited the association's estimate that more than 100,000 Minnesotans currently live with dementia and that the state spends roughly $1 billion annually on dementia-related care. Freeman said the position would not create a large new bureaucracy but would provide clarity and coordination across existing programs and funding streams.

Supporters noted national precedent: 29 other states have a dedicated dementia point person or program, Freeman said, and that a state manager could help leverage federal and philanthropic dollars as treatments and early-detection efforts evolve.

Committee members asked about likely priorities. Freeman said initial tasks would include improving coordination among local organizations and existing helplines, ensuring that newly available treatments reach eligible patients, and implementing recommendations from the state’s Healthy Brain Initiative plan.

The committee laid House File 794, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The A1 amendment was adopted by voice vote and no roll-call tally was recorded at the committee level.