Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act
Debra Cramer
HSM-410 Health Care Policy
July 19, 2015
Mary Black
DeVry University
The Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act will help people who are battling Alzheimer’s have increased access to diagnosis and care planning services which can lead to better outcomes for themselves, their families and caregivers(AIM,2015). This Act also requires documentation in the person’s primary medical record. This paper will cover how HOPE will improve benefits already in place through Medicare for Alzheimer’s patients.
I) What is Alzheimer’s
A. Percentage of diagnosis not relayed by doctors (Leonard, 2015)
II) Changes and how they will help people facing Alzheimer’s.
A. Important changes
a. Timely diagnosis
b. Importance of Care Planning (PR, N. 2015, March 25).
c. Education (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015)
III) History of Bill
A. First Introduced April 6, 2011 (H.R. 1386) Died in a previous Congress.
B. Re-introduced April 11, 2013. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health-4/23/2013. Type of Action: Committee Consideration (H.R. 1507)
C. Re-Introduced March 24, 2015 ( H.R. 1559) – 3/27/2015-Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Type of Action: Committee Consideration
Action By: House Energy and Commerce
D. Prognosis- 8% chance of getting past committee 4% chance of being enacted (gov.track
IV) Conclusion
The Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer’s Act shows the need to improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in the earliest stage and having more access to information, support and care planning for individuals that have been diagnosed and their families. The absence of a formal or early diagnosis will deprive patients of services and treatments that would help by improving symptoms, prolonging independence and reducing caregiver stress. (H.R. 1386)
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