House Bill 4185
Sponsor: Rep. Martha G. Scott
Committee: Health Policy
Complete to 3-17-99
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4185 AS INTRODUCED 2-9-99
The bill would create the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Act, which would amend the Public Health Code by adding Part 94A, entitled "Osteoporosis Education". The bill would allow the Department of Community Health to establish an osteoporosis prevention and treatment education program. The department would have the authority to design and implement strategies for raising public awareness on the causes and nature of osteoporosis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis. The department could also develop and work with other state and local agencies in presenting educational programs for physicians and health professionals on such topics as osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and therapeutic decision-making. The department could also conduct a statewide needs assessment to identify a number of factors, including the needs of health care providers, services available to osteoporosis patients, existence of osteoporosis treatment programs, and the level of public and professional awareness about osteoporosis. Based on the results of the needs assessment, the department could develop, maintain, and make available a list of osteoporosis-related services and osteoporosis health care providers with specialization in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of osteoporosis.
The department could add sufficient staff to implement the osteoporosis prevention and treatment education program; provide staff with appropriate training; improve the capacity of community-based services for osteoporosis patients; work with others in the private and public sector, including national osteoporosis organizations, in order to coordinate efforts and maximize state resources; and identify and replicate or use materials and services from successful osteoporosis programs. The department could accept services, property, and funds from the state and federal governments and other public and private entities. Any revenue received would have to be deposited into the osteoporosis education fund created in the state treasury. In addition, $250,000 would have to be appropriated from the general fund. (The bill does not specify if this would be a one-time appropriation.) Investment of the fund would be directed by the state treasurer and funds could only be expended to carry out the bill's provisions. All interest and earnings of the fund would remain in the fund, and money in the fund at the close of a fiscal year would remain and would not revert to the general fund. Further, the Department of Community Health could seek a federal waiver in order to maximize any federal funds received to implement the osteoporosis prevention and treatment program.
MCL 333.9451 et al. Analyst: S. Stutzky