10 HB
1119/AP
House
Bill 1119 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Harbin of the
118th,
Keen of the
179th,
Lindsey of the
54th,
Rynders of the
152nd,
and Kaiser of the
59th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so
as to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and
purposes; to provide for the development and implementation of an arthritis
prevention and control program; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Arthritis Prevention and
Control Act."
SECTION
2.
The
General Assembly finds that:
(1)
Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect joints,
the surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues;
(2)
As one of the most common family of diseases in the United States, arthritis
affects nearly one of every five Americans and will impact an estimated 67
million people by the year 2030;
(3)
Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, limiting
daily activities for more than 17.4 million citizens;
(4)
Although prevailing myths inaccurately portray arthritis as an old person's
disease, arthritis is a multigenerational disease that has become one of this
country's most pressing public health problems;
(5)
This disease has a significant impact on quality of life, not only for the
individual who experiences its painful symptoms and resulting disability, but
also for family members and caregivers;
(6)
Compounding this picture are the enormous economic and social costs associated
with treating arthritis and its complications; in 2003, the costs were $127.3
billion with $80.8 billion and $47 billion attributable to medical care
expenditures and lost earnings, respectively; $3.9 billion of that was the cost
in Georgia;
(7)
Currently, the challenge exists to ensure delivery of effective, but often
underutilized, interventions that are necessary in the prevention or reduction
of arthritis related pain and disability;
(8)
Although there exists a large quantity of public information and programs about
arthritis, it remains inadequately disseminated and insufficient in addressing
the needs of specific diverse populations and other underserved
groups;
(9)
The Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials have led in the
development of a public health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to
respond to this challenge; and
(10)
Educating the public and health care community throughout this state about this
devastating disease is of paramount importance and is in every aspect in the
public interest and to the benefit of all residents of the State of
Georgia.
SECTION
3.
The
General Assembly finds that the purposes of this Act are to:
(1)
Create and foster a state-wide program that promotes public awareness and
increases knowledge about the causes of arthritis, the importance of early
diagnosis and appropriate management, effective prevention strategies, and pain
prevention and management;
(2)
Develop knowledge and enhance understanding of arthritis by disseminating
educational materials, information on research results, services provided, and
strategies for prevention and control to patients, health professionals, and the
public;
(3)
Establish a solid scientific base of knowledge on the prevention of arthritis
and related disabilities through surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention
research;
(4)
Utilize educational and training resources and services developed by
organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of arthritis and use
available technical assistance;
(5)
Evaluate the need for improving the quality and accessibility of existing
community based arthritis services;
(6)
Heighten awareness about the prevention, detection, and treatment of arthritis
among state and local health and human officials, health professionals and
providers, and policy makers;
(7)
Implement and coordinate state and local programs and services to reduce the
public health burden of arthritis;
(8)
Fund adequately these programs on a state level; and
(9)
Provide lasting improvements in the delivery of health care for individuals with
arthritis and their families, thus improving their quality of life while also
containing health care costs.
SECTION
4.
Title
31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, is amended by
adding a new chapter to read as follows:
"CHAPTER
47
31-47-1.
(a)
The Department of Community Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an
'Arthritis Prevention and Control Program' in order to raise public awareness,
educate consumers, educate and train health professionals, teachers, and human
services providers, and for other purposes.
(b)
As a part of the 'Arthritis Prevention and Control Program,' the Department of
Community Health shall periodically conduct a needs assessment to
identify:
(1)
Epidemiological and other public health research being conducted within this
state;
(2)
Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs
nation-wide and within this state;
(3)
The level of public and professional arthritis awareness;
(4)
The needs of people with arthritis, their families, and caregivers;
(5)
Educational and support service needs of health care providers, including
physicians, nurses, managed care organizations, and other health care
providers;
(6)
The services available to a person with arthritis;
(7)
The existence of arthritis treatment, self-management, physical activity, and
other educational programs; and
(8)
The existence of rehabilitation services.
(c)
The Department of Community Health shall establish and coordinate an advisory
panel on arthritis which shall provide nongovernmental input regarding the
'Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.' Membership shall include, but shall
not be limited to, persons with arthritis, public health educators, medical
experts on arthritis, providers of arthritis health care, persons knowledgeable
in health promotion and education, and representatives of national arthritis
organizations and their local chapters.
(d)
The Department of Community Health shall use, but shall not be limited to,
strategies consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan and existing state
planning efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge about the causes and
nature of arthritis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early
detection, ways to minimize preventable pain, and options for diagnosing and
treating the disease.
(e)(1)
Subject to appropriation or access to other private or public funds, the
Department of Community Health may replicate and use successful arthritis
programs and enter into contracts and purchase materials or services from
entities with appropriate expertise for such services and materials as are
necessary to carry out the goals of the 'Arthritis Prevention and Control
Program.'
(2)
Subject to appropriation or access to other private or public funds, the
Department of Community Health may enter into agreements with national
organizations with expertise in arthritis to implement parts of the 'Arthritis
Prevention and Control Program.'
31-47-2.
The
commissioner of community health shall:
(1)
Provide sufficient staff to implement the 'Arthritis Prevention and Control
Program';
(2)
Provide appropriate training for staff of the 'Arthritis Prevention and Control
Program';
(3)
Identify the appropriate organizations to carry out the program;
(4)
Base the program on the most current scientific information and
findings;
(5)
Work to increase and improve community based services available to people with
arthritis and their family members;
(6)
Work with governmental offices, national voluntary health organizations and
their local chapters, community and business leaders, community organizations,
and health care and human service providers to coordinate efforts and maximize
state resources in the areas of prevention, education, detection, pain
management, and treatment of arthritis; and
(7)
Identify and, when appropriate, use evidence based arthritis programs and obtain
related materials and services from organizations with appropriate expertise and
knowledge of arthritis.
31-47-3.
(a)
The commissioner of community health may accept grants, services, and property
from the federal government, foundations, organizations, medical schools, and
other entities as may be available for the purposes of fulfilling the
obligations of this chapter.
(b)
The commissioner of community health shall seek any federal waiver or waivers
that may be necessary to maximize funds from the federal government to implement
this chapter."
SECTION
5.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.