HJ0072 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0072 LRB096 13183 GRL 27742 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and the deterioration of bone tissues, which increase the risk of bone fractures; osteoporosis primarily affects older women due to the significant physical changes that affect bone health during and following menopause; and

WHEREAS, Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms and may not be detected until a fracture occurs; bone mineral density tests can be performed to identify osteoporosis and determine risk for fractures before they occur; and

WHEREAS, Osteoporosis treatment focuses on proper nutrition, exercise, and fall prevention; in addition, medications may slow or stop bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce fracture risk; building strong bones in childhood and adolescence can help prevent osteoporosis later in life; almost 90 percent of bone mass is acquired by age 18 in women and by age 20 in men; and

WHEREAS, In the U.S., 10 million individuals, 80 percent of whom are women, are estimated to have osteoporosis and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for the disease; half of women over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their life; fractures due to osteoporosis are most likely in the hip, spine, and wrist, but any bone can be affected; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, osteoporosis was responsible for more than 2 million fractures, costing an estimated $19 billion in direct care; by 2025, osteoporosis-related fractures are expected to cost approximately $25.3 billion in health costs; approximately 75 percent of health care costs of osteoporosis for women over the age of 45 are paid for by Medicare and Medicaid; each year, 140,000 nursing home admissions are the direct result of a hip fracture; and

WHEREAS, Federal and State legislation has been introduced in an effort to increase funding for medical research on osteoporosis, expand bone health and osteoporosis education programs, and improve access and reimbursement for tests to diagnose the disease; and

WHEREAS, At least thirty-five states and Puerto Rico have enacted laws relating to osteoporosis, the majority of which establish state-wide education, public awareness and prevention programs; the states of California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas all mandate insurance coverage for osteoporosis-related diagnostic and treatment services, including technologies approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and bone density measurement; and

WHEREAS, 20 ILCS 2305/8.2 requires the Department of Public Health to establish, promote, and maintain an osteoporosis prevention and education program to promote public awareness of the causes of osteoporosis, options for prevention, the value of early detection, and treatments; and

WHEREAS, 215 ILCS 5/356z.6 requires insurance coverage for medically necessary bone mass measurement and for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis on the same terms and conditions that are generally applicable to coverage for other medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, 320 ILCS 25/3.15 provides coverage for any prescription drug used in the treatment of osteoporosis under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act; and

WHEREAS, The month of May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month and the date of October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the date of May 10, 2009 and every May 10 thereafter as "Osteoporosis Day" in the State of Illinois.