Bill Text: OH HB100 | 2011-2012 | 129th General Assembly | Comm Sub

---

Bill Title: To authorize the Department of Health to create the Lupus Education and Awareness Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-22 - Committee Report - S [HB100 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2011-HB100-Comm_Sub.html

---

As Reported by the House Health and Aging Committee

129th General Assembly Regular Session 2011-2012

Sub. H. B. No. 100

Representative Williams 

Cosponsors: Representatives Szollosi, Antonio, Yuko, Reece, Letson, Milkovich, Winburn, Foley, Heard, Hagan, R., Murray, Weddington, Fedor, Mallory, Barnes, Carney, Garland, Ramos 

---

A BILL

To enact sections 3701.77, 3701.771, 3701.772,

1

3701.773, 3701.774, and 3701.775 of the Revised

2

Code to authorize the Department of Health to

3

create the Lupus Education and Awareness Program.

4

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 3701.77, 3701.771, 3701.772,	5
3701.773, 3701.774, and 3701.775 of the Revised Code be enacted to	6
read as follows:	7

Sec. 3701.77. (A) The department of health may establish,	8
promote, and maintain a lupus education and awareness program with	9
an emphasis on at-risk communities to raise public awareness,	10
educate consumers, and educate and train health professionals,	11
human services providers, and other audiences.	12

(B) The department, in creating and implementing the program,	13
may do all of the following:	14

(1) Provide sufficient staff and appropriate training to	15
implement the program;	16

(2) Establish a grant program to support nonprofit voluntary	17
health organizations with expertise in lupus to increase public	18
awareness and enhance health professional education and	19
understanding of the symptoms and consequences of lupus and the	20
populations most at risk;	21

(3) Establish an intergovernmental council and advisory panel	22
to oversee the implementation of the program;	23

(4) Identify the appropriate entities to carry out the	24
program;	25

(5) Base the program on the most current scientific	26
information and findings;	27

(6) Work with government entities, community and business	28
leaders, community organizations, health and human services	29
providers, and national, state, and local lupus organizations,	30
such as the lupus foundation of America, inc., to coordinate	31
efforts to maximize state resources in the areas of lupus	32
education and awareness;	33

(7) Identify and use other successful lupus education and	34
awareness programs and procure related materials and services from	35
organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of lupus.	36

(C) The department may accept gifts, grants, and donations	37
from the federal government, foundations, organizations, medical	38
schools, and other entities for fulfilling the obligations of the	39
program.	40

(D) The department may seek any federal waiver that may be	41
necessary to maximize funds from the federal government to	42
implement the program.	43

Sec. 3701.771. (A)(1) The department of health may conduct a	44
needs assessment to identify all of the following:	45

(a) The level of statewide health professional and public	46
awareness about lupus;	47

(b) The existence of lupus education, awareness, and	48
treatment programs and related technical assistance available in	49
the state and nationwide;	50

(c) The lupus-related educational and support service needs	51
of health care providers in the state, including physicians,	52
nurses, health plans, and other health professionals and health	53
care entities;	54

(d) The needs of people with lupus, their families, and	55
caregivers, including health care providers, physicians, nurses,	56
health plans, and other health professionals and health care	57
entities;	58

(e) The services available to individuals with lupus,	59
including the existence and availability of lupus treatment and	60
specialty care, lupus support groups, and other related care and	61
management services.	62

(2) Based on the needs assessment, the department may develop	63
and maintain a directory of lupus-related services and health care	64
providers with specialization in services to diagnose and treat	65
lupus. The department may disseminate the directory to all	66
stakeholders, including individuals with lupus, families,	67
representatives from voluntary organizations, health	68
professionals, health plans, and state and local health agencies.	69

(B) The department may undertake activities to raise public	70
awareness about the symptoms of lupus, personal risk factors, and	71
options for diagnosing and treating the disease with a particular	72
focus on populations at elevated risk for lupus. Such activities	73
may include, but are not limited to, the following:	74

(1) Implementing a statewide campaign to educate the general	75
public about lupus by utilizing print, radio, and television	76
public service announcements, advertisements, posters, and other	77
materials;	78

(2) Disseminating health information and conducting	79
individual risk assessments at public events, such as health fairs	80
and community forums sponsored by the department;	81

(3) Distributing information through local health	82
departments; schools; area agencies on aging; employer wellness	83
programs; physicians and other health professionals; hospitals and	84
health plans; health, nonprofit, and community-based	85
organizations; and regional offices of the department.	86

Sec. 3701.772. (A) The department of health may establish a	87
program to award grants to educate and train physicians, health	88
professionals, and other service providers on the most current,	89
accurate scientific and medical information on lupus diagnosis,	90
treatment, and therapeutic decision-making, including medical best	91
practices for detecting and treating the disease in special	92
populations, risks and benefits of medications, and research	93
advances. If a program to award grants is established, the	94
department shall allocate the total amount available for the	95
grants in amounts that are proportionate to the populations of the	96
areas served by the Ohio chapters of the lupus foundation of	97
America, inc.	98

To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must be affiliated	99
with the foundation.	100

(B) Each grant recipient shall do all of the following:

101

(1) Develop health professional educational materials that	102
identify the latest scientific and medical information and	103
clinical applications;	104

(2) Work to increase knowledge among physicians, nurses, and	105
other health and human services professionals about the importance	106
of lupus diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation;	107

(3) Use available curricula for training of health and human	108
services providers and community leaders on lupus detection and	109
treatment;	110

(4) Support continuing medical education programs in all	111
geographical areas of the state presented by the leading state	112
academic institutions by providing the most current information;	113

(5) Provide workshops and seminars for in-depth professional	114
development in the field of care and management of lupus patients	115
to bring the latest information on clinical advances to health	116
care providers;	117

(6) Conduct statewide conferences on lupus at appropriate	118
intervals;	119

(7) Prepare an annual report that describes the recipient's	120
use of the grant and submit a copy of the report to the	121
department.	122

Sec. 3701.773. (A) If the department of health establishes	123
the intergovernmental council as permitted by division (B)(3) of	124
section 3701.77 of the Revised Code, the department shall seek to	125
ensure coordination of lupus education and awareness efforts. The	126
director of health shall serve as the council's chairperson. The	127
council shall include representatives from appropriate state	128
departments and agencies, including entities with responsibility	129
for health disparities, medicaid, public health programs,	130
education, and public welfare.	131

(B) The council shall do all of the following:

132

(1) Provide oversight to the lupus education and awareness	133
program, as well as other lupus programs conducted by the	134
department;	135

(2) Develop and issue grant applications and policies and	136
procedures for programs aimed at health professionals and the	137
public;	138

(3) Establish a mechanism for sharing information on lupus	139
among all officials and employees involved in carrying out	140
lupus-related programs;	141

(4) Assist the department and other offices in developing and	142
coordinating plans for education and health promotion on lupus and	143
ensure that issues related to lupus are integrated into other	144
statewide plans;	145

(5) Prepare an annual report that describes educational	146
initiatives on lupus sponsored by the state and make	147
recommendations for new educational initiatives on lupus. The	148
report shall be transmitted to the general assembly and be made	149
available to the public.	150

Sec. 3701.774. (A) If the department of health establishes	151
the advisory panel as permitted by division (B)(3) of section	152
3701.77 of the Revised Code, the department shall coordinate the	153
panel to provide input and counsel regarding the lupus education	154
and awareness program.	155

(B) If the panel is established, all of the following apply:

156

(1) Individuals and organizations may submit to the	157
department nominations for appointments to the panel. Each panel	158
member shall have familiarity with lupus and issues that surround	159
lupus.	160

(2) The panel shall be comprised of the following members to	161
be appointed by the director of health:	162

(a) At least three individuals with lupus;

163

(b) Not more than two representatives from the department;

164

(c) At least five individuals from lupus nonprofit health	165
organizations, with preference given to individuals from the lupus	166
foundation of America, inc.;	167

(d) At least five scientists or clinicians with experience in	168
lupus who participate in various fields of scientific endeavor,	169
including the fields of biomedical research, social,	170
translational, behavioral and epidemiological research, and public	171
health.	172

(3) The department shall select from among the panel members	173
one member to serve as chairperson of the panel.	174

Members of the panel shall serve terms of two years each.	175
Members may be named to serve a total of two terms and terms may	176
be consecutive.	177

A majority of the members of the panel constitutes a quorum.	178
A majority vote of a quorum is required for any official action of	179
the panel.	180

The panel shall meet at the call of the panel chairperson,	181
but not fewer than four times per year.	182

All members shall serve without compensation, but may be	183
reimbursed for actual, necessary expenses incurred in the	184
performance of their duties.	185

(4) The panel shall be responsible for advising the	186
department and the intergovernmental council with respect to the	187
implementation of the lupus education and awareness program. The	188
department shall consult with the advisory panel on a regular	189
basis.	190

Sec. 3701.775. There is hereby created in the state treasury	191
the lupus education and awareness program fund. If the department	192
of health establishes the lupus education and awareness program,	193
as autorized under section 3701.77 of the Revised Code, all moneys	194
accepted under division (C) of that section shall be credited to	195
the fund. Money in the fund shall be used solely to administer the	196
lupus education and awareness program.	197

Section 2. The General Assembly hereby finds the following:

198

(A) Lupus is a serious, complex, and debilitating autoimmune	199
disease that can cause inflammation and tissue damage to virtually	200
any organ system in the body, including the skin, joints, other	201
connective tissue, blood and blood vessels, heart, lungs, kidneys,	202
and brain.	203

(B) The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., estimates that	204
approximately 1.5 to 2 million Americans live with lupus.	205

(C) According to the Centers for Disease Control and	206
Prevention, the rate of lupus mortality has increased since the	207
late 1970s.	208

(D) The pain and fatigue associated with lupus can threaten	209
the ability to live independently, maintain employment, and lead a	210
normal life. One in five individuals with lupus is disabled by the	211
disease, and consequently receives support from government	212
programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security	213
Disability, and Social Security Supplemental Income.	214

(E) The estimated average annual cost of medical treatment	215
for an individual with lupus is between $10,000 and $30,000; for	216
individuals who have the most serious form of lupus, medical costs	217
can greatly exceed this amount, causing a significant economic,	218
emotional, and social burden to the entire family and society.	219

(F) More than half of individuals with lupus suffer four or	220
more years and visit three or more physicians before obtaining a	221
diagnosis of lupus; early diagnosis of and treatment for lupus can	222
prevent or reduce serious organ damage, disability, and death.	223

(G) Despite the magnitude of lupus and its impact on	224
individuals and families, health professional and public	225
understanding of lupus remains low; only one in five Americans can	226
provide basic information about lupus, and awareness of lupus is	227
lowest among adults 18 to 34 years of age - the age group most	228
likely to develop lupus.	229

(H) Lupus is a significant national health issue that	230
deserves a comprehensive and coordinated response by state and	231
federal governments with involvement of the health care provider,	232
patient, and public health communities.	233

Section 3. The purpose of this act is to create a	234
multi-pronged, statewide program to promote public and health	235
professional awareness and increase knowledge concerning the	236
causes and consequences of lupus, the importance of early	237
diagnosis and appropriate management, and effective treatment and	238
management strategies by all of the following:	239

(A) Conducting educational and training programs for health	240
professionals on lupus diagnosis and management;	241

(B) Developing and disseminating educational materials and	242
information to patients and health professionals on lupus research	243
results and health care services available;	244

(C) Designing and implementing a statewide public education	245
campaign aimed at heightening public awareness of lupus;	246

(D) Leveraging educational and training resources and	247
services previously developed by organizations with appropriate	248
expertise and knowledge of lupus.	249