H 4392 General Bill, By A.W. Byrd, J. Brown, T. Brown, Cave, Cobb-Hunter, 
Harvin, J. Hines, M.H. Kinon, Lloyd, Moody-Lawrence and J.M. White
 A Bill to amend Title 44, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to
 health, by adding Chapter 125 to enact the Osteoporosis Prevention and
 Treatment Education Act so as to establish the Osteoporosis Education Fund to
 be administered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control and to
 establish the purpose of the fund and the department's responsibilities in
 carrying out the purpose of the fund.

   12/20/95  House  Prefiled
   12/20/95  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs
   01/09/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-75
   01/09/96  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-75
   04/17/96  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-6
   04/23/96  House  Amended HJ-55
   04/23/96  House  Read second time HJ-57
   04/24/96  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-14
   04/24/96  Senate Introduced and read first time
   04/24/96  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-41

April 23, 1996

H. 4392

Introduced by REPS. Byrd, Moody-Lawrence, J. Brown, Lloyd, Kinon, J. Hines, T. Brown, Harvin, Cobb-Hunter, White and Cave

S. Printed 4/23/96--H.

Read the first time January 9, 1996.

A BILL

TO AMEND TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HEALTH, BY ADDING CHAPTER 125 TO ENACT THE OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT EDUCATION ACT SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OSTEOPOROSIS EDUCATION FUND TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND TO ESTABLISH THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND AND THE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES IN CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the Osteoporosis Prevention, Treatment, and Education Act.

SECTION 2. Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 44-125-10. This chapter may be cited as the Osteoporosis Treatment, Prevention, and Education Act.

Section 44-125-20. (A) There is established the Osteoporosis Education Fund, separate and distinct from the general fund, in the State Treasury and to be administered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The purpose of the fund is to promote public awareness, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis.

(B) All funds received by the department must be remitted to the State Treasurer and deposited in an interest-bearing account. Funds remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal year may be carried forward by the fund.

Section 44-125-30. To implement the purposes of the fund the department may establish an Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program and may, if funds are available from the Osteoporosis Education Fund:

(1) conduct a statewide needs assessment to identify:

(a) available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nationwide;

(b) the level of public and professional awareness about osteoporosis;

(c) the needs of osteoporosis patients and of their families and caregivers;

(d) needs of health care providers;

(e) the services available to osteoporosis patients;

(f) existence of osteoporosis treatment programs;

(g) existence of osteoporosis support groups;

(h) existence of osteoporosis rehabilitation services;

(i) number and location of bone density testing equipment;

(2) design and implement strategies for raising public awareness of the causes and nature of osteoporosis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis;

(3) develop and work with other state and local agencies in presenting educational programs for physicians and other health professionals on the most up-to-date, accurate scientific and medical information on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic decision-making including, but not limited to, guidelines for detecting and treating the disease in special populations, risks and benefits of medications, and research advances; and

(4) develop, maintain, and make available a list of osteoporosis-related services and osteoporosis health care providers with specialization in services to prevent, diagnose, and treat osteoporosis.

Section 44-125-40. Additionally the department, in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter, may, if funds are available from the Osteoporosis Education Fund:

(1) employ qualified staff to implement the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program established by Section 44-125-10;

(2) provide appropriate training for staff of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program;

(3) work to improve the capacity of community-based services available to osteoporosis patients;

(4) work with other state and local governmental offices, community and business leaders, community organizations, health care and human service providers, and national osteoporosis organizations to coordinate efforts and maximize state resources in the areas of education, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis.

(5) identify and, when appropriate, replicate or use successful osteoporosis programs and procure related materials and services from organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of osteoporosis."

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.