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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
appropriations; dementia care; telementoring program
Purpose
Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FYs 2027, 2028 and 2029 to the Department of Health Services (DHS) to provide a grant to a qualified organization to implement a dementia care telementoring program to disseminate information to health care providers statewide regarding dementia care and best practices.
Background
DHS promotes and protects the health of residents and provides and coordinates public health services and programs in Arizona. DHS may: 1) use outlined monies to contract with entities for any project or service that may advance research into the causes, epidemiology and diagnosis, formulation of cures, treatment or prevention of diseases; 2) enter into research and development agreements, royalty agreements, development agreements, licensing agreements and profit sharing agreements regarding the research, development and production of new products developed through DHS-funded research; and 3) obtain expert services to assist in evaluating requests and proposals. DHS must review and evaluate proposals or requests for projects and establish a mechanism to review the contracts awarded to ensure that the monies are used in accordance with approved proposals (A.R.S. §§ 36-132 and 36-273).
Dementia is a general term that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. Disorders grouped under dementia are caused by abnormal brain changes that can trigger a decline in cognitive ability and may be severe enough to impair daily life, independent function and affect behavior, feelings and relationships (Alzheimer's Association).
H.B. 2202 appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FYs 2027, 2028 and 2029 to DHS.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FYs 2027, 2028 and 2029 to DHS to provide a grant to implement a dementia care telementoring program to disseminate information regarding dementia care and best practices to health care providers statewide.
2. Requires DHS to use the appropriated monies to provide a grant to an Arizona organization that demonstrates:
a) experience operating telementoring programs;
b) expertise in neurology and best practices in dementia detection, diagnosis and care management; and
c) capacity to deliver services statewide.
3. Requires the dementia care telementoring program to provide a virtual connection for health care providers and content experts that includes didactics, case studies and an emphasis on practice transformation and systems-level issues that affect care delivery.
4. Requires the dementia care telementoring program to serve Arizona communities and prioritize improving health care provider education within rural and underserved communities.
5. Instructs DHS to ensure that the telementoring program is evidence-based and reflects current best practices in dementia detection, diagnosis and care management.
6. Requires the organization that receives the grant to:
a) develop and implement an outreach and recruitment plan to promote participation and retention in the telementoring program;
b) provide virtual, case-based telementoring sessions for health care providers;
c) offer continuing medical education or continuing education unit credits; and
d) collect and report participation and outcomes data to DHS.
7. Requires DHS to annually publish a summary report on its website.
8. Repeals the dementia care telementoring program on January 1, 2030.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/26/26 DP 11-0-0-1
APPROP 1/28/26 DP 15-2-0-1
3rd Read 2/25/26 39-15-6
Prepared by Senate Research
March 6, 2026
MM/SDR/hk