Acceptance of grants; compliance with federal requirements

‘‘(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, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials have led in the development of a public health strategy, the National Arthritis Action Plan, to respond to this challenge; and ‘‘(10) Educating the public and health care community throughout this state about this devastating disease is of paramount importance and is in every aspect in the public interest and to the benefit of all residents of the State of Georgia.’’ Ga. L. 2010, p. 1143, § 3/HB 1119, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘The General Assembly finds that the purposes of this Act are to: ‘‘(1) Create and foster a state-wide 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) Develop knowledge and enhance understanding of arthritis by disseminating educational materials, information on research results, services provided, and strategies for prevention and control to 997 T.31, C.47 HEALTH patients, health professionals, and the public; ‘‘(3) Establish a solid scientific base of knowledge on the prevention of arthritis and related disabilities through surveillance, epidemiology, and prevention research; ‘‘(4) Utilize educational and training resources and services developed by organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of arthritis and use available technical assistance; ‘‘(5) Evaluate the need for improving the quality and accessibility of existing community based arthritis services; 31-47-1 ‘‘(6) Heighten awareness about the prevention, detection, and treatment of arthritis among state and local health and human officials, health professionals and providers, and policy makers; ‘‘(7) Implement and coordinate state and local programs and services to reduce the public health burden of arthritis; ‘‘(8) Fund adequately these programs on a state level; and ‘‘(9) 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.’’ 31-47-1. Purpose of program; needs assessment; coordination and utilization with other programs. (a) The Department of Public Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an Arthritis Prevention and Control Program in order to raise public awareness, educate consumers, educate and train health professionals, teachers, and human services providers, and for other purposes. (b) As a part of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program, the Department of Public Health shall periodically conduct a needs assessment to identify: (1) Epidemiological and other public health research being conducted within this state; (2) Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nation-wide and within this state; (3) The level of public and professional arthritis awareness; (4) The needs of people with arthritis, their families, and caregivers; (5) Educational and support service needs of health care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care organizations, and other health care providers; (6) The services available to a person with arthritis; (7) The existence of arthritis treatment, self-management, physical activity, and other educational programs; and (8) The existence of rehabilitation services. (c) The Department of Public Health shall use, but shall not be limited to, strategies consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan 998 31-47-2 and existing state planning efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge about 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. (d)(1) Subject to appropriation or access to other private or public funds, the Department of Public Health may replicate and use successful arthritis programs and enter into contracts and purchase materials or services from entities with appropriate expertise for such services and materials as are necessary to carry out the goals of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program. (2) Subject to appropriation or access to other private or public funds, the Department of Public Health may enter into agreements with national organizations with expertise in arthritis to implement parts of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program. History. — Code 1981, § 31-47-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 1143, § 4/HB 1119; Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, § 6-3/HB 214; Ga. L. 2011, p. 752, § 31/HB 142; Ga. L. 2019, p. 919, § 12-1/HB 553. The 2019 amendment, effective July 1, 2019, deleted former subsection (c), which read: ‘‘The Department of Public Health shall establish and coordinate an advisory panel on arthritis which shall provide nongovernmental input regarding the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program. Membership shall include, but shall 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.’’; and redesig- nated former subsections (d) and (e) as present subsections (c) and (d), respectively. Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 2019, p. 919, § 12-2/HB 553, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘Any assets of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program advisory panel existing as of June 30, 2019, shall devolve by operation of law and without further action to the State of Georgia on July 1, 2019. Any liabilities and obligations of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program advisory panel existing as of June 30, 2019, shall be transferred to and assumed by the State of Georgia, by such instruments as may be required to maintain the same.’’