Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 59

Introduced by Senator Galgiani

(Coauthors: Senators Hall, Hertzberg, Huff, and Wieckowski)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Chávez, and Dodd)

May 5, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 59—Relative to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease awareness.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 59, as introduced, 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 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stakeholders to improve education regarding COPD in the course of implementing the statewide strategic plan.

This measure would also designate November 2015 as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month in California and encourage public officials and the citizens of California to increase awareness of the symptoms of, and the methods of preventing, COPD.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
also known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the third
leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of
over 138,000 Americans in 2010; and

WHEREAS, This is the 12th consecutive year in which women
have exceeded men in the number of deaths attributable to COPD.
In 2011, more than 72,000 women died compared to over 65,000
men; and

WHEREAS, American women are about twice as likely to be
diagnosed with chronic bronchitis as men. In 2011, 3.3 million
men (29.6 per 1,000 population) had a diagnosis of chronic
bronchitis compared to 6.8 million women (56.7 per 1,000
population); and

WHEREAS, COPD is a chronic and progressive disease that
impacts an estimated 24 million Americans each year, including
an estimated 1.6 million residents of California who suffer directly
from the disease; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, the national annual cost for COPD was
estimated to be $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct
health care expenditures; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, 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 2020” 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; 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 goal 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 Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages the State
Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of
Public Health, and other state entities, whenever possible, to partner
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 2015 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 Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.