Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas A Bill
2 95th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1592
4
5 By: Representatives J. Mayberry, Ladyman, Rye, Gramlich
6 By: Senators C. Penzo, D. Wallace, Hill, F. Love, G. Leding
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ALZHEIMER'S AND
10 DEMENTIA PUBLIC HEALTH ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
11
12
13 Subtitle
14 TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ALZHEIMER'S AND
15 DEMENTIA PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.
16
17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
18
19 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 15, is amended to add an
20 additional subchapter to read as follows:
21 Subchapter 25 -- Arkansas Alzheimer's and Dementia Public Health Act
22
23 20-15-2501. Title.
24 This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Arkansas
25 Alzheimer's and Dementia Public Health Act".
26
27 20-15-2502. Legislative findings.
28 The General Assembly finds that:
29 (1) Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are a growing
30 public health crisis, with significant social and economic impacts on
31 families and communities in Arkansas;
32 (2) Early detection, timely diagnosis, and coordinated care
33 improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer's
34 disease and related dementias;
35 (3) Modifiable risk factors, such as physical inactivity,
36 hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and social isolation increase the risk of
*JMB280* 02/25/2025 2:54:55 PM JMB280
HB1592
1 cognitive decline, particularly in underserved communities;
2 (4) Dementia has strong links to chronic conditions such as
3 cardiovascular disease and diabetes, requiring integrated public health
4 strategies;
5 (5) Public health outreach, education for healthcare providers,
6 and healthcare access are essential to reducing the burden of dementia; and
7 (6) Improved data collection and analysis are necessary to
8 monitor progress, identify gaps, and inform public health policy and resource
9 allocation.
10
11 20-15-2503. Interagency collaboration.
12 (a) The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health
13 shall collaborate to implement the State Alzheimer's State Plan to address
14 dementia and improve cognitive health.
15 (b) The implementation of the plan shall include:
16 (1) Partnerships with healthcare providers and community-based
17 organizations;
18 (2) The expansion of public health campaigns that address brain
19 health, caregiver support, and the links between chronic disease and
20 dementia;
21 (3) Applications for federal funding to address Alzheimer's and
22 dementia; and
23 (4) Other national cognitive health initiatives as applicable.
24
25 20-15-2504. Public health outreach.
26 The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health shall
27 integrate cognitive health and dementia information and education into
28 existing public health programs, including without limitation:
29 (1) Education for healthcare providers, which shall include:
30 (A) The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis
31 of cognitive impairment;
32 (B) Information on the Medicare annual wellness visit for
33 individuals who are sixty-five (65) years of age and older;
34 (C) Awareness of the Medicare care planning billing code
35 for individuals with cognitive impairment; and
36 (D) Guidance on care planning, including treatment
2 02/25/2025 2:54:55 PM JMB280
HB1592
1 options, advanced directives, and referrals to resources; and
2 (2) Public awareness campaigns, which shall include in
3 nonclinical terms:
4 (A) Cognitive health and dementia risk reduction;
5 (B) Early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and other
6 dementias;
7 (C) The value of early detection and timely diagnosis; and
8 (D) The relationship between Alzheimer's disease,
9 dementia, and other chronic health conditions.
10
11 20-15-2505. Data collection and reporting.
12 The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health shall:
13 (1) Enhance data collection and analysis related to Alzheimer's
14 disease and related dementias to:
15 (A) Monitor prevalence and demographics across Arkansas;
16 and
17 (B) Integrate data from chronic disease programs to
18 identify trends; and
19 (2) Establish and update at least annually a publicly accessible
20 Alzheimer's and Dementia Data Dashboard that:
21 (A) Provides data on the prevalence, demographics, and
22 geographic distribution of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
23 (B) Includes metrics on healthcare utilization and long-
24 term care services;
25 (C) Highlights trends and outcomes related to public
26 health initiatives; and
27 (D) Reports on the utilization of the care planning code.
28
29 20-15-2506. Funding and resources.
30 (a) The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health
31 shall:
32 (1) Seek federal grants, private funding, and other resources to
33 support implementation of this subchapter; and
34 (2) Partner with nonprofit organizations, private entities, and
35 research institutions to maximize available resources to support
36 implementation of this subchapter.
3 02/25/2025 2:54:55 PM JMB280
HB1592
1 (b) The requirements of this subchapter are subject to the
2 availability of funds in each agency that may be used for data collection,
3 reporting, or other requirements of this subchapter.
4
5 SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. TEMPORARY LANGUAGE. Implementation dates.
6 The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health shall
7 begin implementing the education for healthcare providers and the public
8 awareness campaigns under � 20-15-2504 no later than January 1, 2026.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
4 02/25/2025 2:54:55 PM JMB280Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.