Florida Senate - 2008 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. SB 896
250168
587-07429-08
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Health Policy
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to rheumatoid arthritis; amending s.
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385.210, F.S.; revising legislative findings; revising
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purposes; directing the Department of Health to establish
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an arthritis prevention and education program in
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conjunction with the Scripps Research Institute; revising
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requirements for a statewide partnership on arthritis;
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requiring that the State Surgeon General coordinate with
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the Executive Office of the Governor in order to obtain
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funding; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 385.210, Florida Statutes, is amended to
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read:
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385.210 Arthritis prevention and education.--
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(1) SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Arthritis
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Prevention and Education Act."
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(2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds the
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following:
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(a) Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and
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conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and other
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connective tissues.
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(b) Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the
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United States, limiting daily activities for more than 19 7
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million citizens.
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(c) This disease has a significant impact on quality of
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life, not only for the individual who experiences its painful
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symptoms and resulting disability, but also for family members
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and caregivers.
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(d) There are enormous economic and social costs associated
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with treating arthritis and its complications; the economic costs
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are estimated at over $123 billion (2003) $116 billion (1997)
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annually in the United States.
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(e) Currently, the challenge exists to ensure delivery of
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effective, but often underutilized, interventions that are
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necessary in the prevention or reduction of arthritis-related
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pain and disability.
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(f) Although there exists a large quantity of public
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information about arthritis, including programs that can
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dramatically affect early diagnosis and treatment as well as the
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quality of life of people with arthritis, such information
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remains inadequately disseminated and insufficient in addressing
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the needs of specific diverse populations and other underserved
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groups.
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(g) The National Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for
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Disease Control and Prevention, and the Association of State and
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Territorial Health Officials have led the development of a public
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health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to respond
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to this challenge.
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(h) Educating the public and the health care community
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throughout the state about this devastating disease is of
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paramount importance and is in every respect in the public
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interest and to the benefit of all residents of the state.
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(3) PURPOSES.--The purposes of this section are to:
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(a) Create and foster a statewide program that promotes
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public awareness and increases knowledge concerning the causes of
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arthritis, the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate
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management, effective prevention strategies, and pain prevention
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and management.
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(b) Develop knowledge and enhance understanding of
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arthritis by disseminating educational materials and information
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on research results, services provided, and strategies for
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prevention and education to patients, health professionals, and
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the public.
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(c) Establish a solid scientific base of knowledge
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concerning the prevention of arthritis and related disabilities
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through surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research.
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These efforts shall be conducted in conjunction with the research
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efforts of the Scripps Research Institute through the funding
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provided pursuant to s. 288.955.
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(d) Use educational and training resources and services
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developed by organizations with appropriate expertise and
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knowledge of arthritis and to use available technical assistance.
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(e) Evaluate the need for improving the quality and
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accessibility of existing community-based arthritis services.
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(f) Heighten awareness among state and local health and
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human services officials, health professionals and providers, and
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policymakers about the prevention, detection, and treatment of
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arthritis.
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(g) Implement and coordinate state and local programs and
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services to reduce the public health burden of arthritis.
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(h) Provide lasting improvements in the delivery of health
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care for individuals with arthritis and their families, thus
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improving their quality of life while also containing health care
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costs.
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(4) ARTHRITIS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.--
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(a) Program establishment.--To the extent that funds are
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specifically made available for this purpose, the Department of
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Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an arthritis
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prevention and education program to raise public awareness,
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educate consumers, and educate and train health professionals,
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teachers, and human services providers, and for other purposes as
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provided in this section. These activities shall include a focus
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on rheumatoid arthritis and its causes and treatments.
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(b) Needs assessment.--The department shall conduct a needs
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assessment to identify:
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1. Epidemiological and other research on arthritis being
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conducted within the state, which shall be prioritized on
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determining the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, especially
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within women in Florida.
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2. Available technical assistance and educational materials
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and programs on arthritis nationwide and within the state.
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3. The level of public and professional awareness of
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arthritis.
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4. The needs of people with arthritis, their families, and
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caregivers.
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5. The educational and support service needs of health care
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providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care
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organizations, and other health care providers, relating to
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arthritis.
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6. The services available to persons with arthritis.
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7. The existence of arthritis treatment, self-management,
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physical activity, and other education programs.
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8. The existence of rehabilitation services for people with
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arthritis.
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(c) Statewide partnership on arthritis.--The department
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shall establish and coordinate a statewide partnership on
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arthritis to collaborate on and address arthritis issues within
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the state. Membership shall include, but is not limited to,
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persons with arthritis, public health educators, medical experts
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on arthritis, providers of arthritis health care, persons
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knowledgeable in health promotion and education, representatives
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of the Scripps Research Institute, and representatives of
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national arthritis organizations and their local chapters.
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(d) Public awareness.--The department shall use, but is not
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limited to, strategies consistent with the National Arthritis
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Action Plan and existing state planning efforts to raise public
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awareness and knowledge on the causes and nature of arthritis,
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personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early
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detection, ways to minimize preventable pain through evidence-
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based self-management interventions, and options for diagnosing
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and treating the disease.
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(5) FUNDING.--
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(a) The State Surgeon General may accept grants, services,
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and property from the Federal Government, foundations,
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organizations, medical schools, and other entities as may be
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available for the purposes of fulfilling the obligations of this
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program, and shall coordinate activities through the Executive
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Office of the Governor to obtain funding in conjunction with
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appropriations to the Scripps Research Institute pursuant to s.
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288.955.
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(b) The State Surgeon General shall seek any federal waiver
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or waivers that may be necessary to maximize funds from the
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Federal Government to implement this program.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.