BILL NUMBER: ACR 26	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 3, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Galgiani
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Atkins, Bonilla, Logue, Mansoor, and
Silva)
   (Coauthors: Senators Hernandez and Strickland)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   Relative to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 26, as amended, Galgiani. Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease awareness.
   This measure would encourage the State Department of Health Care
Services , the State Department of Public Health, and other state
entities  to partner with  private entities 
 COPD stakeholders  to improve education regarding chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)  in the course of
implementing the statewide strategic plan  .
   This measure would also designate November 2011, as Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month in California. This
measure would also encourage public officials and the citizens of
California to increase awareness of the symptoms of, and the methods
of preventing, COPD.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known
as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the fourth leading cause of
death in the United States and is the only one of the top
five causes of death whose prevalence and death rate is rising; and
  States; and 
   WHEREAS, COPD is a chronic and progressive disease that impacts an
estimated 24 million Americans each year, approximately five million
of whom are residents of California, and an estimated 1.6 million of
whom suffer directly from the disease; and
   WHEREAS, In  2004   2007  , the national
annual cost for COPD was estimated to be  $37  
$42.6  billion and in that same year, COPD caused approximately
121,000 deaths nationwide; and
    WHEREAS, The Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development reported that hospitalizations associated with COPD alone
amounted to an estimated $1.34 billion in medical costs within the
state; and 
   WHEREAS, Many patients suffering with COPD are not diagnosed until
they have reached an advanced stage of COPD, which often includes a
disabling degree of lung dysfunction; and
   WHEREAS, A diagnostic test for COPD, known as spirometry, is
available for office use, allowing early diagnosis of COPD; and
   WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and management of COPD can effectively
reduce the overall financial burden of this illness on publicly
funded health care programs, including Medi-Cal; and
   WHEREAS, Achieving early diagnosis and proper management of COPD
among California's diverse populations, within the Medi-Cal program
as well as other publicly funded health care programs, requires
overcoming cultural, language, and literacy challenges; and
   WHEREAS, Proper management of COPD can lead to an improved quality
of life and self-sufficiency for patients who receive publicly
funded benefits; and
   WHEREAS, The "Healthy People  2010"   2011"
 project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
the National Institutes of Health concludes that, while primary care
physicians are in a key position to provide optimal care to patients
with COPD and to provide counseling during clinical or health center
visits, primary care physicians need to be trained in the latest
methods for diagnosing and treating the disease;  now,
therefore, be it   and 
    WHEREAS, The California COPD Coalition has developed a
comprehensive plan to address COPD in the state, entitled the
"Strategic Plan to Address COPD in California," which outlines six
goals areas, including all of the following: prevention, quality of
care, public health infrastructure and advocacy, surveillance,
research, and public education awareness; now, therefore, be it 

   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages the State
Department of Health Care Services  , the State Department of
Public Health, and other state entities  to, whenever possible,
partner  with private entities to improve education regarding
COPD; and   with COPD stakeholders to improve education
in California regarding COPD in the course of implementing the
statewide strategic plan; and  be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature designates November 2011, as
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month in California.
The Legislature encourages public officials and the citizens of
California to increase awareness about the symptoms of, and the
methods of preventing, COPD; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.