Local news highlightsIllinois Reforms Medicaid Alzheimer’s Association to Carefully Monitor Impact Called landmark legislation, on January 25, 2011,Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation establishing comprehensive Medicaid reform in Illinois. According to the Governor and the bi-partisan legislative sponsors, the bill is intended to streamline services, eliminate inefficiencies, save money and deliver better services. Historically, the Alzheimer’s Association has been a vocal advocate to ensure access to Medicaid coverage for Alzheimer’s. As the disease progresses, Alzheimer’s rob people of their financial security and ability to care for themselves. As a result, Medicaid is critical for many people with the disease who need long term care and a range of home and community based services. The new law provides for the creation of a unified long term care budget in an effort to facilitate a more equitable expenditure for long-term care between institutional care and home and community based care. This rebalancing is defined as offering persons utilizing long term care services a reasonable range of options and to achieve a balance between the proportion of expenditures for institutional services and community based services. In addition, under the new law, efforts of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services will expand coordinated care to cover at least 50 percent of recipients by 2015. This increase in the use of managed care is intended to provide a more integrated delivery of services to recipients. Quincy Area Office News Walk to End Alzheimer's 10th Annual Pro-Am Golf Tournament 93 S. Hennepin Ave. Walk to End Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's Association Duck Race This was the second year for the Duck Race, as part of Reagan Trail Days. Nancy Sweitzer, local Branch Manager, was very pleased with this year’s turnout and stated: “the office sold more tickets/ducks this year than last and we had more people on the river front watching the event. We are grateful to the Main Street Association for including us in Reagan Trail Days, the Dixon Fire Departments for their assistance and to everyone who purchased tickets/ducks in support of our cause. Community spirit soars in the greater Rock River area!” Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic that is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease every 70 seconds. By mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease every 33 seconds. Sweitzer added “There has never been a greater need for the citizens to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and you can help by participating in Memory Walk, which is the Alzheimer’s signature awareness and fund raising event,” said Sweitzer. “As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and funds raised will provide support services to those living with Alzheimer’s, while also contributing to critically needed research.” The Rock River Memory Walk will be held on September 25, 2010 at Lowell Park in Dixon. Contact the Rock River Branch at 93 S Hennepin in Dixon, or visit our website at alz.org/illinois central for additional information about forming a Memory Walk Team or about agency services.
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