HB 0905

CS

CHAMBER ACTION

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

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