HB0641eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0641 Engrossed LRB094 06865 RXD 36972 b

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Arthritis Prevention and Control Act.

Section 5. Findings and purposes.

(a) Findings. The legislature hereby finds the following:

(1) Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues.

(2) One of the most common family of diseases in the United States, arthritis affects nearly one of every 6 Americans and will impact an estimated 60,000,000 people (almost 20% of the population) by the year 2020.

(3) Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, limiting daily activities for more than 7,000,000 citizens.

(4) Although prevailing myths inaccurately portray arthritis as an old person's disease, arthritis is a multi-generational disease that has become one of the 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, which are estimated at almost $80,000,000,000 annually.

(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 (CDC), and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials have led the development of a public health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to respond to this challenge.

(10) Educating the public and health care community throughout the State about this devastating disease is of paramount importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the benefit of all residents of this State.

(b) Purposes. The purposes of this Act are:

(1) To create and foster a statewide 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) To develop knowledge and enhance understanding of arthritis by disseminating educational materials and information on research results, services provided, and strategies for prevention and control to patients, health professionals, and the public.

(3) To establish a solid scientific base of knowledge on the prevention of arthritis and related disability through surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research.

(4) To utilize educational and training resources and services developed by organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of arthritis and to use available technical assistance.

(5) To evaluate the need for improving the quality and accessibility of existing community-based arthritis services.

(6) To heighten awareness about the prevention, detection, and treatment of arthritis among State and local health and human services officials, health professionals and providers, and policy makers.

(7) To implement and coordinate State and local programs and services to reduce the public health burden of arthritis.

(8) To adequately fund these programs on a State level.

(9) To 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 10. Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.

(a) The Department of Public Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an Arthritis Prevention and Control Program to raise public awareness, educate consumers, and educate and train health professionals, teachers, and human services providers, and for other purposes. The program shall include the following components:

(1) Needs assessment. The Department of Public Health shall conduct a needs assessment to identify the following:

(A) Epidemiological and other public health research being conducted within the State.

(B) Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nationwide and within the State.

(C) The level of public and professional arthritis awareness.

(D) The needs of people with arthritis and their families and caregivers.

(E) Educational and support service needs of health care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care organizations, and other health care providers.

(F) The services available to a person with arthritis.

(G) The existence of arthritis treatment, self-management, physical activity, and other education programs.

(H) The existence of rehabilitation services.

(2) Advisory Council on Arthritis. The Department of Public Health shall establish and coordinate an Advisory Council on Arthritis to provide non-governmental input regarding the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program. Membership of the Council must include, but need 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.

(3) Public awareness. The Department of Public Health shall use, but is not limited to, strategies consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan and existing State planning efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge on 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.

(4) Technical assistance. The Department of Public Health may replicate and use successful arthritis programs and enter into contracts with or purchase materials or services from entities with appropriate expertise for services and materials that are necessary to carry out the goals of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program. The Department may enter into agreements with one or more national organizations with expertise in arthritis to implement parts of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.

(b) The Department of Public Health shall do all of the following:

(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 services providers to coordinate efforts and maximize State resources in the areas of prevention, education, detection, pain management, and treatment of arthritis.

(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.

Section 15. Funding. The Department of Public Health may accept grants, services, and property from the federal government, foundations, organizations, medical schools, and other entities that may be available for the purposes of fulfilling the obligations of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.

Section 20. Waivers. The Department of Public Health shall seek all waivers of federal law and regulations that may be necessary to maximize funds from the federal government to implement the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.