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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Taylor, JP

 

DATE TYPED:

2/7/02

 

HB

329

 

SHORT TITLE:

Alzheimer’s Respite Care Services

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Dunbar

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$50.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

   

Department of Health (DOH)

State Agency on Aging (SAA)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 329 appropriates $50.0 from general fund to the State Agency on Aging to fund respite care to families of persons with Alzheimer’s disease.

 

     Significant Issues

 

Respite services provide people with temporary relief from tasks associated with care giving (e.g., in-home assistance, short nursing home stays, adult day care). Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s may be one of the biggest commitments a person can make. Alzheimer’s — a disease that can span up to 20 years or more — can be emotionally, physically, and financially challenging.  HB 329 would provide funding for respite services for families to provide temporary relief from care giving. Approximately 30,000 persons in NM have Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Currently the respite services provided through the Agency reach a small number of the families or persons with Alzheimer’s disease.  The appropriation will allow the agency to expand respite care services to 25 families.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 03 shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

None noted by DOH.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

DOH notes that Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, and the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. It is unknown how many people have the disease in New Mexico.  A person with Alzheimer’s lives an average of 8 years and as many as 20 years or more from the onset of symptoms. Caring for these individuals can create a major burden for family members. More than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease live at home.

 

Family and friends provide almost 75 percent of home care. The remainder is “paid” care, costing an average of $12,500 per year, most of which is covered by families. Neither Medicare nor private health insurance covers the type of long-term care most patients need. Respite services will provide people with temporary relief from tasks associated with care giving, such as in-home assistance, short nursing home stays, and adult day care.

 

BD/njw

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