Health - Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and Provider Resource Toolkit

New dementia care support for Maryland families

Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland's health department runs a new program to coordinate dementia care and brain health efforts. A full-time, permanent director leads it, reports to the Health Secretary, and can seek staffing help from public health organizations. The program supports people with dementia and their caregivers but creates no direct household payment or new individual benefit eligibility. It oversees the State Plan, shares brain health data, sets measurable goals, and finds ways to improve services across agencies. It also promotes dementia-ready care, works with education and health organizations, and seeks grants to advance the plan. The director staffs the state's dementia council and updates it quarterly. The department reports activities and recommendations to the Governor and designated legislative committees every five years. The council advises state leaders on policy, funding, and rules, and reviews caregiver needs and providers' ability to deliver care efficiently. The law requires State Plan updates by September 1, 2022, and every five years afterward. The Governor's annual budget must fund the director and council. Minimum amounts are $71,400 for fiscal 2023, $83,000 for 2024, $85,300 for 2025, $87,600 for 2026, and $89,900 from 2027 onward. Working with the Department of Aging, the council, and other partners, the department must create a provider toolkit by October 1, 2027. It must cover dementia risks, including the link with Down syndrome, risk reduction, early diagnosis, and tested assessment tools. It must also address racial and ethnic gaps in detection and treatment access, care based on each person's needs, and clinical guidelines. Care planning resources must include reimbursement guidance, community service referrals, treatment options, and continuing education. The department must promote the toolkit across health care sectors, including hospitals, community health centers, managed care, and professional organizations. Starting in 2028, it must review and update the toolkit by January 1 each year.