S AMDT 984

S 984 IS

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for arthritis research and public health, and for other purposes.

May 6, 2009

Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Mr. BOND, and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

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 2009’.

SEC. 2. 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--

‘(1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;

‘(2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;

‘(3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;

‘(4) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

‘(5) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.

‘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--

‘(1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;

‘(2) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;

‘(3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;

‘(4) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

‘(5) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.

‘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; and

‘(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 appropriated to carry out this section--

‘(1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;

‘(2) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2011;

‘(3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;

‘(4) $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

‘(5) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.

‘SEC. 315D. NATIONAL ARTHRITIS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

Full Text of Legislation