SR0250 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0250 LRB103 32127 MST 61167 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Asthma is a chronic lung disease that impacts 25.2 million people in the United States, including 4.2 million children; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 188,519 children and 832,244 adults in the State of Illinois suffer from asthma; and

WHEREAS, Asthma is a leading cause of childhood hospitalizations in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Asthma symptoms are severely worsened by environmental triggers, such as secondhand smoke, allergens, and outdoor air pollution caused by industrial sources and motor vehicle emissions; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, data regarding asthma reveals significant disparities; the asthma mortality rate is 5.5 times higher for Black Illinoisans than white Illinoisans; substantially higher asthma rates are reported in Grundy, Edwards, Hamilton, Logan, and Wabash Counties than the state rate; substantially higher asthma-related hospitalizations are reported in several counties, including Cook, Hardin, Kankakee, Peoria, Pope, Sangamon, Will, and Vermilion; and

WHEREAS, Guidelines-based care for asthma sufferers improves health outcomes, including the quality and affordable healthcare coverage that provides access to and appropriate use of medications and treatments, the reimbursement for community health workers, asthma educators, and others in Illinois who can provide key environmental assessments and education, the expansion of in-home environmental education and interventions, the promotion of tobacco-free environments and coverage for smoking cessation products and counseling, the expanded access to undesignated Albuterol for schools through education of stakeholder groups, such as students, parents, school staff, pediatric clinicians, and pharmacists, and the annual state funding that provides adequate coverage to implement Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART), the utilization of guidelines-based medications and other treatments for individuals that provide medical assistance program coverage for valved holding chambers and self-management education, and the universal alignment of Medicaid coverage across plans within the State; and

WHEREAS, The month of May has been designated as Asthma Awareness Month and the date of May 2, 2023 has been declared World Asthma Day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May 2023 as Asthma Awareness Month in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the 2021-2026 Illinois Asthma State Plan, which strives to improve and expand asthma care, education, and self-management strategies in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the American Lung Association in Illinois and the Respiratory Health Association.