Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 4611 (ih) To strengthen the authority of the Federal Government to protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers, and for other purposes. [Introduced in Hou...H.R. 4611 (ih) To strengthen the authority of the Federal Government to protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers, and for other purposes. [Introduced in Hou...
108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4610 To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for arthritis research and public health, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 17, 2004 Mr. Pickering (for himself and Ms. Eshoo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for arthritis research and public health, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2004''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are among the most common conditions in the United States. There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, of which the 2 most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. (2) Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases cause severe and chronic pain, swollen tissue, ligament and joint destruction, deformities, permanent disability, and death. Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases erode patients' quality of life and can diminish their mental health, impose significant limitations on their daily activities, and disrupt the lives of their family members and caregivers. (3) One out of every 3, or nearly 70,000,000, adults in the United States suffer from arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. The number of individuals in the United States with arthritis will grow as the number of older Americans continues to increase dramatically in the next few decades. (4) Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases affect all types of people of the United States, not just older individuals. Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases disproportionately affect women in the United States, and nearly 3 of every 5 individuals with arthritis are younger than 65 years of age. Today, 8,400,000 young adults ages 18 through 44 have arthritis and millions of others are at risk for developing the disease. (5) Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are the leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. More than 8,000,000 people in the United States are disabled by arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. By 2020, arthritis will limit the daily activities of nearly 12,000,000 individuals. (6) Nearly 60 percent of people of the United States with arthritis are of working age. In general, people with arthritis have a low rate of participation in the workforce. Arthritis is exceeded only by heart disease as a cause of work disability. (7) Nearly 300,000 children in the United States, or 3 children out of every 1,000, have some form of arthritis or other rheumatic disease. It is the sense of Congress that the substantial morbidity associated with pediatric arthritis warrants a greater Federal investment in research to identify new and more effective treatments for these diseases. (8) Arthritis results in 750,000 hospitalizations, 44,000,000 outpatient visits, and 4,000,000 days of hospital care every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (9) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the annual cost of medical care for arthritis is $51,000,000, and the estimated annual total cost of arthritis to the United States, including lost productivity, exceeds $86,000,000. (10) In 1975, the National Arthritis Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-640) was enacted to promote basic and clinical arthritis research, establish Multipurpose Arthritis Centers, and expand clinical knowledge in the field of arthritis. The Act was successfully implemented, and continued funding of arthritis- related research has led to important advances in arthritis control, treatment, and prevention. (11) Early diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate management of arthritis can control symptoms and improve quality of life. Weight control and exercise can demonstrably lower health risks from arthritis, as can other forms of patient education, training, and self-management. The genetics of arthritis are being actively investigated. New, innovative, and increasingly effective drug therapies, joint replacements, and other therapeutic options are being developed. (12) While research has identified many effective interventions against arthritis, such interventions are broadly underutilized. That underutilization leads to unnecessary loss of life, health, and quality of life, as well as avoidable or unnecessarily high health care costs. Arthritis self-management can reduce both patient pain and health care costs, with some self-management programs reducing arthritis pain by 20 percent and physician visits by 40 percent. Yet less than 1 percent of the 49,000,000 people in the United States with arthritis participate in such programs, and self-management courses are not offered in all areas of the United States. (13) Rheumatologists are internists or pediatric sub- specialists that are uniquely qualified by an additional 2 to 4 years of training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic conditions. Typically, rheumatologists act as consultants, but also often act as managers, relying on the help of many skilled professionals, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Many rheumatologists conduct research to determine the cause and effective treatment of disabling and sometimes fatal rheumatic diseases. (14) Recognizing that the Nation requires a public health approach to arthritis, the Department of Health and Human Services established important national goals related to arthritis in its Healthy People 2010 initiative. Moreover, various Federal and non-Federal stakeholders have worked cooperatively to develop a comprehensive National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy. (15) Greater efforts and commitments are needed from Congress, the States, providers, and patients to achieve the goals of Healthy People 2010, implement a national public health strategy consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan, and lessen the burden of arthritis on citizens of the United States. SEC. 3. ENHANCING THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ARTHRITIS OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARTHRITIS ACTION PLAN. Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 314 the following: ``SEC. 315. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ARTHRITIS ACTION PLAN. ``The Secretary shall develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan that consists of-- ``(1) the Federal arthritis prevention and control activities, as described in section 315A; ``(2) the State arthritis control and prevention programs, as described in section 315B; ``(3) the comprehensive arthritis action grant program, as described in section 315C; and ``(4) a national arthritis education and outreach program, as described in section 315D. ``SEC. 315A. FEDERAL ARTHRITIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACTIVITIES. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, directly, or through a grant to an eligible entity, conduct, support, and promote the coordination of research, investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. ``(b) Duties of Secretary.--The activities of the Secretary under subsection (a) shall include-- ``(1) the collection, publication, and analysis of data on the prevalence and incidence of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases; ``(2) the development of uniform data sets for public health surveillance and clinical quality improvement activities; ``(3) the identification of evidence-based and cost- effective best practices for the prevention, diagnosis, management, and care of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases; ``(4) research, including research on behavioral interventions to prevent arthritis and on other evidence-based best practices relating to arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and care; and ``(5) demonstration projects, including community-based and patient self-management programs of arthritis control, prevention, and care, and similar collaborations with academic institutions, hospitals, health insurers, researchers, health professionals, and nonprofit organizations. ``(c) Training and Technical Assistance.--With respect to the planning, development, and operation of any activity carried out under subsection (a), the Secretary may provide training, technical assistance, supplies, equipment, or services, and may assign any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services to a State or local health agency, or to any public or nonprofit entity designated by a State health agency, in lieu of providing grant funds under this section. ``(d) Arthritis Prevention Research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers.--The Secretary shall provide additional grant support for research projects at the Centers for Prevention Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to encourage the expansion of research portfolios at the Centers for Prevention Research to include arthritis-specific research activities related to the prevention and management of arthritis. ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009. ``SEC. 315B. STATE ARTHRITIS CONTROL AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to provide support for comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and to enable such entities to provide public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities related to arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a State or Indian tribe. ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require, including a comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan that-- ``(1) is developed with the advice of stakeholders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors that have expertise relating to arthritis control, prevention, and treatment that increase the quality of life and decrease the level of disability; ``(2) is intended to reduce the morbidity of arthritis, with priority on preventing and controlling arthritis in at- risk populations and reducing disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and quality of care in underserved populations; ``(3) describes the arthritis-related services and activities to be undertaken or supported by the entity; and ``(4) is developed in a manner that is consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan or a subsequent strategic plan designated by the Secretary. ``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use amounts received under a grant awarded under subsection (a) to conduct, in a manner consistent with the comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan submitted by the entity in the application under subsection (c)-- ``(1) public health surveillance and epidemiological activities relating to the prevalence of arthritis and assessment of disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and care; ``(2) public information and education programs; and ``(3) education, training, and clinical skills improvement activities for health professionals, including allied health personnel. ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009. ``SEC. 315C. COMPREHENSIVE ARTHRITIS ACTION GRANTS. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable such eligible entities to assist in the implementation of a national strategy for arthritis control and prevention. ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a national public or private nonprofit entity. ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require, including a description of how funds received under a grant awarded under this section will-- ``(1) supplement or fulfill unmet needs identified in the comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan of a State or Indian tribe; ``(2) otherwise help achieve the goals of the National Arthritis Action Plan or a subsequent strategic plan designated by the Secretary. ``(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities submitting applications proposing to carry out programs for controlling and preventing arthritis in at-risk populations or reducing disparities in underserved populations. ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use amounts received under a grant awarded under subsection (a) for 1 or more of the following purposes: ``(1) To expand the availability of physical activity programs designed specifically for people with arthritis. ``(2) To provide awareness education to patients, family members, and health care providers, to help such individuals recognize the signs and symptoms of arthritis, and to address the control and prevention of arthritis. ``(3) To decrease long-term consequences of arthritis by making information available to individuals with regard to the self-management of arthritis. ``(4) To provide information on nutrition education programs with regard to preventing or mitigating the impact of arthritis. ``(f) Evaluation.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under such grant that includes an analysis of increased utilization and benefit of public health programs relevant to the activities described in the appropriate provisions of subsection (e). ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be Other Popular 106th Congressional Bills Documents:
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