Senate Bill sb2372
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2372
By Senator Klein
28-1576-02
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to arthritis; creating s.
3 385.21, F.S.; creating the "Arthritis
4 Prevention and Control Act"; providing purposes
5 of the act; requiring the Department of Health
6 to establish an Arthritis Prevention and
7 Control Program; requiring the department to
8 conduct a needs assessment; providing for the
9 establishment of an Advisory Panel on
10 Arthritis; requiring the department to promote
11 public awareness of and knowledge concerning
12 arthritis; allowing the Secretary of Health to
13 accept certain contributions; providing
14 authority to seek federal waivers; providing an
15 effective date.
16
17 WHEREAS, arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases
18 and conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues,
19 and other connective tissues, and
20 WHEREAS, arthritis is the leading case of disability in
21 the United States, limiting daily activities for more than 7
22 million individuals, and
23 WHEREAS, this disease has a significant effect on
24 quality of life, not only for the individual who experiences
25 its painful symptoms and resulting disability, but also for
26 family members and caregivers, and
27 WHEREAS, the enormous economic and social costs
28 associated with treating arthritis and its complications are
29 estimated at almost $80 billion annually in the United States,
30 and
31
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2372
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1 WHEREAS, currently the challenge exists to ensure
2 delivery of effective, but often underutilized, interventions
3 that are necessary in the prevention or reduction of
4 arthritis-related pain and disability, and
5 WHEREAS, although there exists a large quantity of
6 public information and programs about arthritis, it remains
7 inadequately disseminated and insufficient in addressing the
8 needs of specific diverse populations and other underserved
9 groups, and
10 WHEREAS, the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter, the
11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the
12 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials have led
13 the development of a public-health strategy, the National
14 Arthritis Action Plan, to respond to this challenge, and
15 WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health-care
16 community throughout the state about this devastating disease
17 is of paramount importance and is in every respect in the
18 public interest and to the benefit of all residents of the
19 State of Florida, NOW, THEREFORE,
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Section 385.21, Florida Statutes, is
24 created to read:
25 385.21 Arthritis Prevention and Control Act; purposes;
26 program; needs assessment; advisory panel; public awareness.--
27 (1) SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the
28 "Arthritis Prevention and Control Act."
29 (2) PURPOSES.--The purposes of this section are:
30 (a) To create and foster a statewide program that
31 promotes public awareness and increases knowledge about the
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2372
28-1576-02
1 causes of arthritis, the importance of early diagnosis and
2 appropriate management, effective prevention strategies, and
3 pain prevention and management;
4 (b) To develop knowledge and enhance understanding of
5 arthritis by disseminating educational materials, information
6 on research results, services provided, and strategies for
7 prevention and control to patients, health professionals, and
8 the public;
9 (c) To establish a solid scientific base of knowledge
10 on the prevention of arthritis and related disability through
11 surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research;
12 (d) To use educational and training resources and
13 services developed by organizations that have appropriate
14 expertise and knowledge of arthritis and to use available
15 technical assistance.
16 (e) To evaluate the need for improving the quality and
17 accessibility of existing community-based arthritis services;
18 (f) To heighten awareness about the prevention,
19 detection, and treatment of arthritis among state and local
20 health and human-services officials, health professionals and
21 providers, and policymakers;
22 (g) To implement and coordinate state and local
23 programs and services to reduce the public-health burden of
24 arthritis; and
25 (h) To provide lasting improvements in the delivery of
26 health care for individuals who have arthritis and their
27 families, thus improving their quality of life while also
28 containing health-care costs.
29 (3) ARTHRITIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM.--The
30 Department of Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an
31 Arthritis Prevention and Control Program for the purposes of
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2372
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1 raising public awareness, educating consumers, and educating
2 and training healthcare professionals, teachers, and human
3 services providers, and for other related purposes.
4 (4) NEEDS ASSESSMENT.--The department shall conduct a
5 needs assessment to identify:
6 (a) Epidemiological and other public-health research
7 that is being conducted within the state;
8 (b) Available technical assistance and educational
9 materials and programs nationwide and within the state;
10 (c) The level of public and professional arthritis
11 awareness;
12 (d) The needs of people who have arthritis, their
13 families, and their caregivers;
14 (e) Educational and support-service needs of
15 healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses,
16 managed-care organizations, and other healthcare providers;
17 (f) The services available to a person who has
18 arthritis;
19 (g) The existence of arthritis treatment,
20 self-management, physical activity, and other education
21 programs; and
22 (h) The existence of rehabilitation services.
23 (5) ADVISORY PANEL ON ARTHRITIS.--The Department of
24 Health shall establish and coordinate an Advisory Panel on
25 Arthritis, to provide nongovernmental input regarding the
26 Arthritis Prevention and Control Program. Membership on the
27 panel shall include, but is not limited to, persons who have
28 arthritis, public-health educators, medical experts on
29 arthritis, providers of arthritis health care, persons who are
30 knowledgeable in health promotion and education, and
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1 representatives of national arthritis organizations and their
2 local chapters.
3 (6) PUBLIC AWARENESS.--The department shall use, but
4 is not limited to, strategies that are consistent with the
5 National Arthritis Action Plan and existing state planning
6 efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge of the causes
7 and nature of arthritis, personal risk factors, the value of
8 prevention and early detection, ways to minimize preventable
9 pain, and options for diagnosing and treating the disease.
10 (7) CONTRIBUTIONS.--The Secretary of Health may
11 accept, from the Federal Government, foundations,
12 organizations, medical schools, and other entities, whatever
13 grants, services, and property are available for the purposes
14 of fulfilling the obligations of this program.
15 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
16 law.
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19 SENATE SUMMARY
20 Creates the "Arthritis Prevention and Control Act."
Provides purposes of the act. Requires the Department of
21 Health to establish an Arthritis Prevention and Control
Program. Requires the department to conduct a needs
22 assessment. Provides for the establishment of an Advisory
Panel on Arthritis. Requires the department to promote
23 public awareness of and knowledge concerning arthritis.
Allows the Secretary of Health to accept contributions to
24 further the program. Provides for seeking federal
waivers.
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