Vermont § 6221 - Public education resources

§ 6221. Public education resources

• (a) The Departments of Health and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living shall
  jointly develop and maintain easily accessible electronic, print, and in-person public
  education materials and programs on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders that
  shall serve as a resource for patients, families, caregivers, and health care providers.
  The Departments shall include information about the State Plan on Aging as well as
  resources and programs for prevention, care, and support for individuals, families,
  and communities. (b)(1) To the extent funds exist, the Departments of Health, of Mental Health, and of Disabilities,
  Aging, and Independent Living, in consultation with the Commission on Alzheimer’s
  Disease and Related Disorders and other relevant workgroups and community organizations,
  shall, as part of existing and relevant public health outreach programs: (A) educate health care providers regarding: (i) the value of early detection and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other
  types of dementia; (ii) validated assessment tools for the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease,
  younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia; (iii) the benefits of a Medicare annual wellness visit or other annual physical for an adult
  65 years of age or older to screen for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia; (iv) the significance of recognizing the family care partner as part of the health care
  team; (v) the Medicare care planning billing codes for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
  and other types of dementia; and (vi) the necessity of ensuring that patients have access to language access services, when
  appropriate; and (B) increase public understanding and awareness of: (i) the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia; and (ii) the benefits of early detection and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other
  types of dementia. (2) In their public health outreach programs and any programming and information developed
  for providers pertaining to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, the Departments
  shall provide uniform, consistent guidance in nonclinical terms with an emphasis on
  cultural competency as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 251 and health literacy, specifically targeting populations at higher risk for developing
  dementia. (Added 2021, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. July 1, 2022; amended 2023, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.)