Advocates from across Indiana gathered at the Statehouse on Feb. 13 for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter’s State Advocacy Day.
The event brought together supporters urging lawmakers to prioritize legislation aimed at helping Hoosiers affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Advocates focused on advancing two key legislative priorities: Senate Bill 220 and House Bill 1076. Senate Bill 220 proposed requiring state employee health plans to cover dementia treatments or medications. While Medicare and Medicaid began covering Alzheimer’s treatments in 2023, some private insurance plans still do not provide coverage. The bill aimed to eliminate this gap for state employees while maintaining safeguards to protect premium costs.
“We now have two FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments to slow the progression of the disease, but barriers to coverage are effectively preventing Hoosiers in the early stages of Alzheimer’s from gaining access to these vital treatments,” said Sarah Donsbach, director of state affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter. “Covering Alzheimer’s treatments can reduce Hoosier health care costs by delaying the need for residential memory care and allowing individuals to engage in their healthcare decisions longer.”
House Bill 1076 sought to include Alzheimer’s and dementia-specific language in existing public health awareness efforts. It also called for expanded education and training opportunities for health care and human service providers.
“Dementia is a public health crisis in Indiana. With 10.9% of Hoosiers over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s disease, the time to act is now,” Donsbach said. “By expanding public awareness about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia, promoting the benefits of early detection and diagnosis, and providing continued education for health care professionals, Hoosiers will be equipped with knowledge and tools to better navigate Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
Speakers at the event included Donna M. Wilcock, PhD, a professor of neurology and director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders at Indiana University School of Medicine; Natalie Sutton, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter; Senator Kyle Walker; Rep. Greg Porter and several advocates from across the state.
For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter, visit alz.org/Indiana.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
