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Bill would codify dementia‑services coordinator to centralize resources for Nebraskans with Alzheimer’s
Summary
LB913 would require DHHS to assign duties for a dementia services coordinator — a post the Alzheimer’s Association says already exists and is funded — to improve referrals, data collection, training and statewide coordination for the roughly 35,000 Nebraskans living with Alzheimer’s disease, testifiers said.
Sen. Duxi Goreca introduced LB913 to require the Department of Health and Human Services to designate (or assign) the duties of a dementia services coordinator within the department, clarifying responsibilities for connecting families with resources, collecting and monitoring dementia‑related data, and supporting implementation of the state Alzheimer’s plan.
Alex DeGarmo, public policy director for the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska chapter, told the committee the position was funded in the governor’s 2023 biennial budget (about $99,326 used to hire one full‑time employee) and that codifying the job duties would “maximize the investment the state of Nebraska has made.” He said the coordinator would be disease‑specific and would coordinate with local public‑health departments and community organizations.
Committee members pressed sponsors and the Alzheimer’s Association about how the coordinator differs from an existing long‑term care coordinator and noted a possible inconsistency with the fiscal note; sponsors and testifiers said the position is already funded, so the fiscal note’s assumption of creating a new position appears incorrect and will be reviewed for the record. Testimony also stated an estimate of roughly 35,000 Nebraskans living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The committee recorded three proponents online and no in‑person opponents; the introducer said the bill clarifies duties rather than creating a new position and indicated follow‑up with staff to rectify the fiscal note language.
