In May 2008, the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer’s Disease was established pursuant to Senate Bill 2186. Tasked with examining the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and forming a plan of action within the state, the Task Force included representatives from the private sector, community organizations, and state agencies as well as caregivers, state legislators, and individuals living with Alzheimer's. In September 2009, the Final Report of the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer’s Disease in Oklahoma was published. In 2015, Governor Mary Fallin issued Executive Order 2015-32 to authorize an update to the state plan. The Oklahoma Alzheimer’s State Plan 2016 was published in February 2016. In 2023, the Oklahoma State Health Department, in partnership with a coalition of stakeholders, published an update to the state Alzheimer’s plan for 2023-2027. The updated state plan details four goal areas for advancing brain health across the state.

Medicaid Reimbursement for Care Planning and Cognitive Assessments  

Early intervention can provide individuals living with dementia time to plan for the future, adopt lifestyle changes, participate in clinical trials, and live more fully with a higher quality of life for as long as possible. Medicare beneficiaries in Oklahoma have access to a billing code that covers cognitive assessments and care planning. However, those on Medicaid do not have access to this critical service. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to support legislation to add CPT Code 99483 to the Oklahoma Health Authority Plan, which would reimburse providers for care planning and cognitive assessments for patients not enrolled in Medicare.