The Missouri Senate heard a bill Wednesday morning that would create a pilot program to help patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caretakers.
House Bill 466 would initiate a pilot program that would allow Alzheimer’s patients who qualify for Medicaid to receive money for their family caregivers, and would pay caregivers up to 60% of the daily rate of care at a facility or nursing home.
David Wood, the bill’s sponsor, explained to the committee how the pilot program would work and who would be eligible.
“We are simply proving another avenue for care, and that's where a family member who's gonna live with the Alzheimer patient 24 hours a day will be able to draw some money for the family care,” said Wood.
Wood told the committee that there is a chance for a financial impact to the state if the initial 300 participants are currently receiving less than the equivalent of 60% of daily care due to the budget cuts to in-home care over the past few years.
However, Wood does not foresee a significant increase in cost because to qualify for the program, the patient must already qualify for Medicaid.