2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 410 - PUBLIC HEALTH › 410 ILCS 2/ - Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.

(410 ILCS 2/1)
Sec. 1. Short title.  This Act may be cited as the Arthritis
Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-634, eff. 1-1-06.)
(410 ILCS 2/5)
Sec. 5. Findings and purposes.
(a) Findings. The legislature hereby finds the following:
(1) Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and     conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues.
(2) One of the most common family of diseases in the     United States, arthritis or chronic joint symptoms affect nearly one of every 3 Americans.
(3) Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in     the United States, limiting daily activities for more than 7,000,000 citizens.
(4) Although prevailing myths inaccurately portray     arthritis as an old person's disease, arthritis is a multi-generational disease that has become one of the country's most pressing public health problems.
(5) This disease has a significant impact on quality     of life not only for the individual who experiences its painful symptoms and resulting disability, but also for family members and caregivers.
(6) Compounding this picture are the enormous     economic and social costs associated with treating arthritis and its complications, which are estimated at almost $86,000,000,000 annually.
(7) Currently, the challenge exists to ensure     delivery of effective, but often underutilized, interventions that are necessary in the prevention or reduction of arthritis-related pain and disability.
(8) Although there exists a large quantity of public     information and programs about arthritis, it remains inadequately disseminated and insufficient in addressing the needs of specific diverse populations and other underserved groups.
(9) The Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for Disease     Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials have led the development of a public health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to respond to this challenge.
(10) Educating the public and health care community     throughout the State about this devastating disease is of paramount importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the benefit of all residents of this State.
(b) Purposes. The purposes of this Act are:
(1) To create and foster a statewide program that     promotes public awareness and increases knowledge about the causes of arthritis, the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management, effective prevention strategies, and pain prevention and management.
(2) To develop knowledge and enhance understanding of     arthritis by disseminating educational materials and information on research results, services provided, and strategies for prevention and control to patients, health professionals, and the public.
(3) To establish a solid scientific base of knowledge     on the prevention of arthritis and related disability through surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research.
(4) To utilize educational and training resources and     services developed by organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of arthritis and to use available technical assistance.
(5) To evaluate the need for improving the quality     and accessibility of existing community-based arthritis services.
(6) To heighten awareness about the prevention,     detection, and treatment of arthritis among State and local health and human services officials, health professionals and providers, and policy makers.
(7) To implement and coordinate State and local     programs and services to reduce the public health burden of arthritis.
(8) To adequately fund these programs on a State     level.
(9) To provide lasting improvements in the delivery     of health care for individuals with arthritis and their families, thus improving their quality of life while also containing health care costs.
(Source: P.A. 94-634, eff. 1-1-06.)
(410 ILCS 2/10)
Sec. 10. Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program.
(a) The Department of Public Health shall establish, promote,
and maintain an Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program to raise
public awareness, educate consumers, and educate and train health
professionals, teachers, and human services providers, and for other
purposes. The program shall include the following components:
(1) Needs assessment. The Department of Public Health     shall conduct a needs assessment to identify the following:
(A) Epidemiological and other public health         research being conducted within the State.
(B) Available technical assistance and         educational materials and programs nationwide and within the State.
(C) The level of public and professional         arthritis awareness.
(D) The needs of people with arthritis and their         families and caregivers.
(E) Educational and support service needs of         health care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care organizations, and other health care providers.
(F) The services available to a person with         arthritis.
(G) The existence of arthritis treatment,         self-management, physical activity, and other education programs.
(H) The existence of rehabilitation services.
(2) Advisory Council on Arthritis. The Department of     Public Health shall establish and coordinate an Advisory Council on Arthritis to provide non-governmental input regarding the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program. Membership of the Council must include, but need not be limited to, persons with arthritis, public health educators, medical experts on arthritis, providers of arthritis health care, persons knowledgeable in health promotion and education, and representatives of national arthritis organizations and their local chapters.
(3) Public awareness. The Department of Public Health     shall use, but is not limited to, strategies consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan and existing State planning efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge on the causes and nature of arthritis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early detection, ways to minimize preventable pain, and options for diagnosing and treating the disease.
(4) Technical assistance. The Department of Public     Health may replicate and use successful arthritis programs and enter into contracts with or purchase materials or services from entities with appropriate expertise for services and materials that are necessary to carry out the goals of the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program. The Department may enter into agreements with one or more national organizations with expertise in arthritis to implement parts of the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program.
(b) In addition to the components described in subsection (a), the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program shall include a pilot program for the study of arthritis public health innovation projects. Under the pilot program, the Department of Public Health may give grants to academic organizations or to public or community health organizations to conduct the study or studies. The Department shall review all grant applications, in collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation and the Illinois Arthritis Partnership.  Under the pilot program, the Department of Public Health also may fund community health projects for the following activities: surveillance, awareness campaigns, public education, professional education, screenings, and physical activity programs.  The Department of Public Health, in coordination with selected grantees, shall evaluate the success of the community health projects and their outcomes.
(c) The Department of Public Health shall do all of the
following:
(1) Provide sufficient staff to implement the     Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program.
(2) Provide appropriate training for staff of the     Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program.
(3) Identify the appropriate organizations to carry     out the program.
(4) Base the program on the most current scientific     information and findings.
(5) Work to increase and improve community-based     services available to people with arthritis and their family members.
(6) Work with governmental offices, national     voluntary health organizations and their local chapters, community and business leaders, community organizations, and health care and human services providers to coordinate efforts and maximize State resources in the areas of prevention, education, detection, pain management, and treatment of arthritis.
(7) Identify and, when appropriate, use     evidence-based arthritis programs and obtain related materials and services from organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of arthritis.
(Source: P.A. 94-634, eff. 1-1-06.)
(410 ILCS 2/15)
Sec. 15. Funding.  The Department of Public Health may accept
grants, services, and property from the federal government,
foundations, organizations, medical schools, and other entities that
may be available for the purposes of fulfilling the obligations of the
Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Program.
(Source: P.A. 94-634, eff. 1-1-06.)
(410 ILCS 2/20)
Sec. 20. Waivers.  The Department of Public Health shall seek
all waivers of federal law and regulations that may be necessary to
maximize funds from the federal government to implement the Arthritis
Prevention, Control, and Cure Program.
(Source: P.A. 94-634, eff. 1-1-06.)
(410 ILCS 2/25)
Sec. 25. Implementation subject to appropriation. Implementation of this Act is subject to appropriation.
(Source: P.A. 94-634, eff. 1-1-06.)