(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.)