HB 0905

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to arthritis prevention and education;
3	creating s. 385.210, F.S.; providing a popular name;
4	providing legislative findings; providing purposes;
5	directing the Department of Health to establish an
6	arthritis prevention and education program; requiring the
7	department to conduct a needs assessment; providing for
8	establishment of an advisory panel on arthritis; providing
9	for implementation of a public awareness effort; providing
10	for funding through contributions; directing the Secretary
11	of Health to seek federal waivers as necessary to maximize
12	federal funding; providing an effective date.
13
14	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16	Section 1.  Section 385.210, Florida Statutes, is created
17	to read:
18	385.210  Arthritis prevention and education.--
19	(1)  POPULAR NAME.--This act may be cited as the "Arthritis
20	Prevention and Education Act."
21	(2)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds the
22	following:
23	(a)  Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and
24	conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and
25	other connective tissues.
26	(b)  Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the
27	United States, limiting daily activities for more than 7 million
28	citizens.
29	(c)  This disease has a significant impact on quality of
30	life, not only for the individual who experiences its painful
31	symptoms and resulting disability, but also for family members
32	and caregivers.
33	(d)  There are enormous economic and social costs
34	associated with treating arthritis and its complications. The
35	economic costs are estimated at over $116 billion (1997)
36	annually in the United States.
37	(e)  Currently, the challenge exists to ensure delivery of
38	effective, but often underutilized, interventions that are
39	necessary in the prevention or reduction of arthritis-related
40	pain and disability.
41	(f)  Although there exists a large quantity of public
42	information about arthritis, including programs that can
43	dramatically affect early diagnosis and treatment as well as the
44	quality of life of people with arthritis, such information
45	remains inadequately disseminated and insufficient in addressing
46	the needs of specific diverse populations and other underserved
47	groups.
48	(g)  The National Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for
49	Disease Control and Prevention, and the Association of State and
50	Territorial Health Officials have led the development of a
51	public health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to
52	respond to this challenge.
53	(h)  Educating the public and the health care community
54	throughout the state about this devastating disease is of
55	paramount importance and is in every respect in the public
56	interest and to the benefit of all residents of the state.
57	(3)  PURPOSES.--The purposes of this section are to:
58	(a)  Create and foster a statewide program that promotes
59	public awareness and increases knowledge concerning the causes
60	of arthritis, the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate
61	management, effective prevention strategies, and pain prevention
62	and management.
63	(b)  Develop knowledge and enhance understanding of
64	arthritis by disseminating educational materials and information
65	on research results, services provided, and strategies for
66	prevention and education to patients, health professionals, and
67	the public.
68	(c)  Establish a solid scientific base of knowledge
69	concerning the prevention of arthritis and related disabilities
70	through surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research.
71	(d)  Use educational and training resources and services
72	developed by organizations with appropriate expertise and
73	knowledge of arthritis and use available technical assistance.
74	(e)  Evaluate the need for improving the quality and
75	accessibility of existing community-based arthritis services.
76	(f)  Heighten awareness among state and local health and
77	human services officials, health professionals and providers,
78	and policymakers about the prevention, detection, and treatment
79	of arthritis.
80	(g)  Implement and coordinate state and local programs and
81	services to reduce the public health burden of arthritis.
82	(h)  Provide lasting improvements in the delivery of health
83	care for individuals with arthritis and their families, thereby
84	improving their quality of life while also containing health
85	care costs.
86	(4)  ARTHRITIS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.--
87	(a)  Program establishment.--To the extent that funds are
88	specifically made available for this purpose, the Department of
89	Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an arthritis
90	prevention and education program to raise public awareness,
91	educate consumers, and educate and train health professionals,
92	teachers, and human services providers, and for other purposes
93	as provided in this section.
94	(b)  Needs assessment.--The department shall conduct a
95	needs assessment to identify:
96	1.  Epidemiological and other research on arthritis being
97	conducted within the state.
98	2.  Available technical assistance and educational
99	materials and programs on arthritis nationwide and within the
100	state.
101	3.  The level of public and professional awareness of
102	arthritis.
103	4.  The needs of people with arthritis, their families, and
104	caregivers.
105	5.  The educational and support service needs of health
106	care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care
107	organizations, and other health care providers, relating to
108	arthritis.
109	6.  The services available to persons with arthritis.
110	7.  The existence of arthritis treatment, self-management,
111	physical activity, and other education programs.
112	8.  The existence of rehabilitation services for people
113	with arthritis.
114	(c)  Advisory panel on arthritis.--The department shall
115	establish and coordinate an advisory panel on arthritis to
116	provide nongovernmental input regarding the arthritis prevention
117	and education program. Membership shall include, but is not
118	limited to, persons with arthritis, public health educators,
119	medical experts on arthritis, providers of arthritis health
120	care, persons knowledgeable in health promotion and education,
121	and representatives of national arthritis organizations and
122	their local chapters.
123	(d)  Public awareness.--The department shall use, but is
124	not limited to, strategies consistent with the National
125	Arthritis Action Plan and existing state planning efforts to
126	raise public awareness and knowledge about the causes and nature
127	of arthritis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and
128	early detection, ways to minimize preventable pain, and options
129	for diagnosing and treating the disease.
130	(5)  FUNDING.--
131	(a)  The Secretary of Health may accept grants, services,
132	and property from the Federal Government, foundations,
133	organizations, medical schools, and other entities as may be
134	available for the purposes of fulfilling the obligations of this
135	program.
136	(b)  The secretary shall seek any federal waiver or waivers
137	that may be necessary to maximize funds from the Federal
138	Government to implement this program.
139	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.