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91_SB1642enr SB1642 Enrolled LRB9112686ACdvA 1 AN ACT in relation to arthritis. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative Act. 6 Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly 7 finds and declares that: 8 (1) Arthritis is the most common, crippling, and 9 costly chronic disease in the United States; it affects 10 14.5% of the population or more than 40,000,000 Americans 11 of all ages. One in every 7 people and one in every 3 12 families are affected by the disease. 13 (2) Arthritis is the nation's number one disabling 14 disease and disables 7,000,000 Americans. It is one of 15 the most common and disabling chronic conditions reported 16 by women and far exceeds the reporting of hypertension, 17 heart disease, diabetes, and breast, cervical, and 18 ovarian cancers. 19 (3) With an aggregate cost of about 1.1% of the 20 gross national product or an estimated $64,800,000,000 21 annually in medical expenses, lost wages, and associated 22 economic losses, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases 23 have a significant economic impact on the nation. 24 (4) As the leading cause of industrial absenteeism 25 after the common cold, arthritis accounts nationally for 26 500,000,000 days of restricted activity and 27,000,000 27 days lost from work each year. 28 (5) The federal Centers for Disease Control and 29 Prevention project that by the year 2020, the incidence 30 of arthritis will increase by 59% in the State and 31 throughout the country, affecting 20% of the population. SB1642 Enrolled -2- LRB9112686ACdvA 1 (6) Programs and services presently are available 2 that can dramatically impact on early diagnosis and 3 treatment as well as the quality of life of people with 4 arthritis. 5 (7) A mechanism for broader dissemination of these 6 programs and services aimed at prevention, information, 7 and education is needed to help reduce the physical and 8 emotional impact of arthritis and its associated health 9 care and related costs. 10 Section 10. Definitions. In this Act: 11 "Arthritis" means any of the more than 130 types of 12 arthritis and rheumatic diseases. 13 "Department" means the Department of Public Health. 14 "Director" means the Director of Public Health. 15 "Initiative" means the arthritis quality of life 16 initiative established pursuant to this Act. 17 Section 15. Initiative. 18 (a) Subject to appropriation for this purpose, the 19 Director shall establish an arthritis quality of life 20 initiative in the Department. The purpose of the initiative 21 is to promote (i) public awareness about arthritis, (ii) 22 options for prevention, (iii) the value of early diagnosis 23 and treatment, and (iv) the delivery of programs and services 24 aimed at prevention of complications and improvement of 25 quality of life. The Department may accept, for the purpose 26 of establishing the initiative, any special grant of money, 27 services, or property from the federal government or any of 28 its agencies or from the private sector, in addition to 29 moneys provided by the State. 30 (b) The initiative shall include the following: 31 (1) Development of a list of providers of 32 specialized services for arthritis, including a SB1642 Enrolled -3- LRB9112686ACdvA 1 cautionary statement about the current status of 2 arthritis research, prevention, and treatment. 3 (2) A public information and outreach campaign 4 including appropriate educational material to promote 5 early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other 6 rheumatic diseases. 7 Section 30. Rules. The Department shall adopt rules 8 necessary to implement this Act.