GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE BILL 454*

 
 
Short Title:	Osteoporosis Education Funds.	()	
Sponsors:	Representatives Boyd-McIntyre;  Adams, Alexander, Barefoot, Bell, Cunningham, Goodwin, Morris, Wainwright, Womble, and Wright.	
Referred to:	Appropriations.	
March 1, 2001

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.

Whereas, osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease, is a major public health problem that poses a threat to the health and quality of life of over one million North Carolinians age 50 and over; and
Whereas, each year, more than 13,000 North Carolinians are hospitalized for hip fractures alone resulting in more than $57 million in direct medical costs; and
Whereas, one of two women and one of eight men will suffer an osteoporitic fracture in his or her lifetime; and
Whereas, because osteoporosis progresses silently and currently has no cure, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment are key to reducing the prevalence of this disease; and
Whereas, many consumers, physicians, health care providers, and government agencies lack knowledge in the prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease; and
Whereas, experts in the field of osteoporosis believe that with greater awareness among medical experts, service providers, and the general public, osteoporosis can be prevented in the future, thereby reducing its prevalence, severity, and costly consequences; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 2001‑2002 fiscal year and the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 2002‑2003 fiscal year. These funds shall be used to implement the following recommendations of the Osteoporosis Prevention Task Force:
(1)	Increase public awareness and education about osteoporosis, its impact, the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management, and effective prevention strategies.
(2)	Increase osteoporosis education and outreach to diverse population groups in North Carolina.
(3)	Increase health and human services professionals' understanding of osteoporosis: its impact, the importance of and skill requirement for early diagnosis, as well as appropriate management and effective treatment strategies.
(4)	Provide access to knowledge on the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
(5)	Improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention abilities of health and human services professionals.
(6)	Reduce barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of osteoporosis for all North Carolina citizens.
(7)	Monitor the burden of illness and progress toward preventing osteoporosis in North Carolina citizens.
(8)	Evaluate education and awareness, as well as efforts to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of osteoporosis.
SECTION 1.(b)  Funds appropriated in this section shall also be used to establish two positions to implement this program.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2001.