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HB 1004

Public Health - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias - Information on Prevalence and Treatment

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tiffany Alston and 19 co-sponsors

Maryland requires the Department of Health to compile and publicly share information on Alzheimer's disease prevalence, treatments, and support resources to improve patient access to care options.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 681
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Bill Summary · HB 1004

Legislative bill overview

HB 1004 requires Maryland's Department of Health to compile and disseminate comprehensive information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including prevalence data, available treatments, and support resources. The bill mandates that this information be made publicly accessible to help residents understand the scope of these conditions and available care options.

Why is this important

Alzheimer's and related dementias affect hundreds of thousands of Americans and impose significant burdens on families and healthcare systems. By centralizing reliable, evidence-based information, the bill aims to improve early detection, treatment access, and quality of life for affected individuals while reducing fragmentation in care pathways that currently force patients and families to search across multiple sources.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and timelines: The bill requires state resources for data collection and dissemination without specifying funding mechanisms or completion deadlines, potentially straining already-stretched health department budgets.
  • Data privacy concerns: Compiling prevalence data requires careful handling of sensitive health information to avoid inadvertent privacy breaches or stigmatization of affected populations.
  • "Treatment" scope ambiguity: The bill references "treatment" broadly without defining whether this includes experimental therapies, palliative care only, or disease-modifying interventions, which could shape public expectations about available options.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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