Maine State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In June 2011, Maine’s legislature commissioned a state task force with the enactment of LD 859, calling for a study of the impact of Alzheimer's disease and the creation of a guide to help the state meet the needs of individuals and families impacted by this disease. The task force included representatives from elder law, community organizations, state agencies, academia, and law enforcement as well as caregivers, individuals living with the disease, state legislators, and health care providers. After soliciting public feedback, the task force published the State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Maine in June 2012. Following receipt of a federal BOLD grant, Maine used the 2018-2023 Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map as a guide in developing a set of recommendations for the next state plan. In October 2023, the state issued 2022-2027 Maine State Plan—Maine Reaching for the Summit: Addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.
Maine 2026 Policy Priorities
Remove Medicaid Barriers to Alzheimer’s Treatments
Maine is home to over 29,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s, yet barriers in the state’s Medicaid program are preventing timely access to care. Despite the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of treatments that can slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages, MaineCare currently requires patients to “fail” on drugs that manage symptoms before covering disease-modifying therapies. Because these treatments are most effective in the early stages of the disease, this “step therapy” protocol causes irreversible delays, potentially pushing families out of the eligible window for treatment. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation prohibiting MaineCare from utilizing step therapy requirements for treatments to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, ensuring families can access treatment in a timely manner.
Improve Access to Biomarker Testing
With the availability of new treatments, early detection and diagnosis are even more critical to ensure individuals receive the most benefit at the earliest point possible. Biomarkers offer one of the most promising paths to improve dementia detection, diagnosis and treatment. Yet these critical tests remain out of reach for many as insurance coverage is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatments. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to expand insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing. Without this legislation, dementia diagnoses may take up to two years, increasing the long-term costs to the individual, family and the state.
Expand Access to Alzheimer’s Treatments for State Employees
State governments have a duty to ensure access to these new Alzheimer’s treatments in Medicaid and other state programs, such as state employee health plans. With the number of people in Maine living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia growing each year, the Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to require health insurance coverage of Alzheimer’s treatments in Maine’s State Employee Health Plan.
Maine State Advocacy Day
Join the Alzheimer’s Association, fellow advocates and partner organizations from across the state to show state lawmakers and policy leaders that addressing Alzheimer’s and other dementia must be a top priority! At the event, we will hear from state leaders regarding their efforts to address dementia in Maine. You will have the opportunity to share your story with elected representatives, showing them why prioritizing the fight against Alzheimer’s is so important, and help us build public awareness of issues faced by people living with dementia and family caregivers.
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Maine
Find My Chapter
Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimer’s Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.
Contact Us
State Affairs Contact: Jill Carney
Phone: 207.390.8192
Email: jecarney@alz.org
29,600
people living with Alzheimer’s in Maine
66,000
Mainers are providing unpaid care
$297 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2025)
543
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2022
19%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
15.2%
increase of geriatricians in Maine needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Maine
The following resources developed by AIM and the Alzheimer’s Association will help you learn more about the issues impacting people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, how Maine policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.