I am proud to be the lead co-author of bipartisan legislation that will help improve the quality of life for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and lower their healthcare costs.

Through the existing Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program, the state Department of Health Services allocates funds to local agencies to assist eligible families with obtaining goods and services related to the care of individuals with Alzheimer's or another irreversible dementia. In order to qualify for this aid, the joint income of the person with Alzheimer's and their spouse must be $48,000 per year or less.

Due to this outdated criteria, counties that administer the program are struggling to spend the funding that the state provides. Even more concerning, a recent change in federal code is expected to result in Wisconsin losing access to the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which requires state or local matching funds that do not limit eligibility through means testing.

Senate Bill 152 repeals the $48,000 qualification threshold so that more residents and their families can utilize the funding. Furthermore, the elimination of the cap will allow the state to maintain participation in the federal matching program. Moving forward, we will also be able to implement policies that prioritize individuals with the greatest need for these critical resources.