THE BILL ITSELF
HR 8045
PSP Awareness Month
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House Resolution
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A resolution designating May 2026 as "PSP Awareness
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Month" in Florida and recognizing the commitment of
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patients, their families, and health care professions
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to increase awareness and research regarding
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progressive supranuclear palsy and other
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neurodegenerative diseases.
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WHEREAS, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is one of
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many neurodegenerative brain disorders affecting the aging
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population, causing progressive gait and balance difficulties,
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frequent falls, ocular impairment, slow or stiff movement,
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slurred speech, mood or behavioral changes, and cognitive
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decline, and
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WHEREAS, PSP is one of the most common forms of atypical
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parkinsonism, based on more than 20 studies, with an estimated
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prevalence in Florida of approximately 7 cases per 100,000
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residents from 2015 to 2023, and the mean age of onset is
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typically between 63 and 67 years of age, and
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WHEREAS, neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's
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disease; Parkinson's disease; Huntington's disease; amyotrophic
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lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease; and
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other disorders and forms of dementia, and
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WHEREAS, in 2024, the Legislature passed chapter 2024-165,
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Laws of Florida, the "Justo R. Cortes Progressive Supranuclear
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Palsy Act," and, as required by the act, the State Surgeon
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General established a policy committee on PSP and other
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neurodegenerative diseases and the committee submitted a report
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of its findings to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature,
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and
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WHEREAS, the policy committee's findings included an
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estimated direct medical cost for PSP in the United States of
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$25.4 billion per year, along with estimated indirect and
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nonmedical costs of $26.5 billion annually for such things as
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missed work, lost wages, forced early retirement, and family
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caregiver time, and
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WHEREAS, PSP and Parkinson's disease share similar
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symptoms, resulting in misdiagnosis and potential delay in
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critical care and support, and the policy committee concluded
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that identification and early diagnosis of these disorders is
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vital, and
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WHEREAS, patients with these neurodegenerative diseases
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have complex needs that require a multidisciplinary approach to
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care involving physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists,
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allied health providers, and caregivers, and
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WHEREAS, the policy committee recommendations included
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addressing the need to identify risk factors that would aid in
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detection of the diseases, understanding how the diseases impact
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residents, developing the standards of care necessary for
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effective treatment, and crafting policy recommendations to help
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improve patient and caregiver awareness of PSP and other
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neurodegenerative diseases, and
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WHEREAS, progress in addressing the devastating impact of
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PSP and related conditions depends upon increasing the public's
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awareness of the diseases, as well as public health initiatives
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to educate individuals about early symptoms, promoting more
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intensive research efforts, and educating health care
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practitioners on recognizing signs and symptoms related to PSP
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and similar disorders, NOW, THEREFORE,
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Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
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Florida:
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That the House of Representatives designates May 2026 as
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"PSP Awareness Month" in Florida and recognizes the commitment
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of patients, their families, and health care professions to
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increase awareness and research regarding progressive
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supranuclear palsy and other neurodegenerative diseases.