Senate Bill sb1450
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1450
By Senator Klein
30-862-05
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to arthritis prevention and
3 education; creating s. 385.210, F.S.; providing
4 a short title; providing legislative findings;
5 providing purposes; directing the Department of
6 Health to establish an arthritis prevention and
7 education program; requiring the department to
8 conduct a needs assessment; providing for
9 establishment of an advisory panel on
10 arthritis; providing for implementation of a
11 public awareness effort; providing for funding
12 through contributions; directing the Secretary
13 of Health to seek federal waivers as necessary
14 to maximize federal funding; providing an
15 effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Section 385.210, Florida Statutes, is
20 created to read:
21 385.210 Arthritis prevention and education.--
22 (1) SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the
23 "Arthritis Prevention and Education Act."
24 (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds the
25 following:
26 (a) Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and
27 conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and
28 other connective tissues.
29 (b) Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in
30 the United States, limiting daily activities for more than 7
31 million citizens.
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1450
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1 (c) This disease has a significant impact on quality
2 of life, not only for the individual who experiences its
3 painful symptoms and resulting disability, but also for family
4 members and caregivers.
5 (d) There are enormous economic and social costs
6 associated with treating arthritis and its complications; the
7 economic costs are estimated at over $116 billion (1997)
8 annually in the United States.
9 (e) Currently, the challenge exists to ensure delivery
10 of effective, but often underutilized, interventions that are
11 necessary in the prevention or reduction of arthritis-related
12 pain and disability.
13 (f) Although there exists a large quantity of public
14 information about arthritis, including programs that can
15 dramatically affect early diagnosis and treatment as well as
16 the quality of life of people with arthritis, such information
17 remains inadequately disseminated and insufficient in
18 addressing the needs of specific diverse populations and other
19 underserved groups.
20 (g) The National Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for
21 Disease Control and Prevention, and the Association of State
22 and Territorial Health Officials have led the development of a
23 public health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to
24 respond to this challenge.
25 (h) Educating the public and the health care community
26 throughout the state about this devastating disease is of
27 paramount importance and is in every respect in the public
28 interest and to the benefit of all residents of the state.
29 (3) PURPOSES.--The purposes of this section are to:
30 (a) Create and foster a statewide program that
31 promotes public awareness and increases knowledge concerning
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1450
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1 the causes of arthritis, the importance of early diagnosis and
2 appropriate management, effective prevention strategies, and
3 pain prevention and management.
4 (b) Develop knowledge and enhance understanding of
5 arthritis by disseminating educational materials and
6 information on research results, services provided, and
7 strategies for prevention and education to patients, health
8 professionals, and the public.
9 (c) Establish a solid scientific base of knowledge
10 concerning the prevention of arthritis and related
11 disabilities through surveillance, epidemiology, and
12 prevention research.
13 (d) Use educational and training resources and
14 services developed by organizations with appropriate expertise
15 and knowledge of arthritis and to use available technical
16 assistance.
17 (e) Evaluate the need for improving the quality and
18 accessibility of existing community-based arthritis services.
19 (f) Heighten awareness among state and local health
20 and human services officials, health professionals and
21 providers, and policymakers about the prevention, detection,
22 and treatment of arthritis.
23 (g) Implement and coordinate state and local programs
24 and services to reduce the public health burden of arthritis.
25 (h) Provide lasting improvements in the delivery of
26 health care for individuals with arthritis and their families,
27 thus improving their quality of life while also containing
28 health care costs.
29 (4) ARTHRITIS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.--
30 (a) Program establishment.--To the extent that funds
31 are specifically made available for this purpose, the
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1450
30-862-05
1 Department of Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an
2 arthritis prevention and education program to raise public
3 awareness, educate consumers, and educate and train health
4 professionals, teachers, and human services providers, and for
5 other purposes as provided in this section.
6 (b) Needs assessment.--The department shall conduct a
7 needs assessment to identify:
8 1. Epidemiological and other research on arthritis
9 being conducted within the state.
10 2. Available technical assistance and educational
11 materials and programs on arthritis nationwide and within the
12 state.
13 3. The level of public and professional awareness of
14 arthritis.
15 4. The needs of people with arthritis, their families,
16 and caregivers.
17 5. The educational and support service needs of health
18 care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care
19 organizations, and other health care providers, relating to
20 arthritis.
21 6. The services available to persons with arthritis.
22 7. The existence of arthritis treatment,
23 self-management, physical activity, and other education
24 programs.
25 8. The existence of rehabilitation services for people
26 with arthritis.
27 (c) Advisory panel on arthritis.--The department shall
28 establish and coordinate an advisory panel on arthritis to
29 provide nongovernmental input regarding the arthritis
30 prevention and education program. Membership shall include,
31 but is not limited to, persons with arthritis, public health
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1450
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1 educators, medical experts on arthritis, providers of
2 arthritis health care, persons knowledgeable in health
3 promotion and education, and representatives of national
4 arthritis organizations and their local chapters.
5 (d) Public awareness.--The department shall use, but
6 is not limited to, strategies consistent with the National
7 Arthritis Action Plan and existing state planning efforts to
8 raise public awareness and knowledge on the causes and nature
9 of arthritis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention
10 and early detection, ways to minimize preventable pain, and
11 options for diagnosing and treating the disease.
12 (5) FUNDING.--
13 (a) The Secretary of Health may accept grants,
14 services, and property from the Federal Government,
15 foundations, organizations, medical schools, and other
16 entities as may be available for the purposes of fulfilling
17 the obligations of this program.
18 (b) The secretary shall seek any federal waiver or
19 waivers that may be necessary to maximize funds from the
20 Federal Government to implement this program.
21 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
22 law.
23
24 *****************************************
25 SENATE SUMMARY
26 Creates the "Arthritis Prevention and Education Act."
Provides purposes of the act. Requires the Department of
27 Health to establish an Arthritis Prevention and Education
Program. Requires the department to conduct a needs
28 assessment. Provides for the establishment of an advisory
panel on arthritis. Requires the department to promote
29 public awareness of and knowledge concerning arthritis.
Allows the Secretary of Health to accept contributions to
30 further the program. (See bill for details.)
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