US COPD Coalition

State COPD Legislation Passed in 2011

Dec
2
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It was great year for COPD advocacy! 23 states declared November as COPD Awareness Month and 12 state legislatures passed legislation improving COPD awareness, diagnosis, and treatment. Thank you to all of our COPD advocates for all the hard work you do; without your letters, calls, and visits to your elected officials we would not have made such great strides in COPD public policy. Thank you to all of the state coalitions, USCC member organizations, and patient groups that helped introduce and pass these pieces of legislation.

To get involved with COPD advocacacy visit the COPD Action Center. Let’s keep up the great work through 2012!

Declared November as COPD Awareness Month

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Hawaii
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Dakota
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin

Passed COPD Legislation

  • Alabama
    • Commends the Department of Public Health for its efforts in implementing a policy requiring pulse oximetry testing of newborns
    • California
      • Created the Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund
        Funds will be allocated to the State Department of Health Services for distribution to the American Lung Association of California to provide research grants to develop and advance the understanding, causes, techniques, and modalities effective in the prevention, care, treatment, and cure of lung disease. Lung diseases and research areas shall include COPD.
        Encourages the State Department of Health Care Services to partner with private entities to improve education regarding COPD and seeks to increase awareness of COPD symptoms and prevention methods.
    • Hawaii
      • Adopted a resolution requesting the Department of Health to develop a State Action Plan to Combat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the state
    • Florida
      • Recognizes the founding of the COPD Coalition of Florida and expresses appreciating to the COPD Foundation and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for their commitment to raising awareness.
    • Illinois
      • The Illinois Legislature directed the Department of Public Health to designate a member of its staff to handle issues related to COPD
        Established a disease management pilot program in the Department of Health and Family Services for chronic conditions, including COPD, with the goal of examining patient outcomes associated with the use of disease management programs and services.
    • Kansas
      • Passed a resolution requesting the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to conduct a study regarding tobacco harm reduction
        Requires the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to create a comprehensive COPD prevention and education state plan to foster public awareness and increase knowledge of COPD. The state plan shall outline sustainable solutions for reducing the burden of COPD in Kansas through coordinated implementation of muliple strategies (prevention, early detections, treatment, awareness, and funding).
    • Maine
      • Created an elderly low-cost drug program in the Department of Health and Human Services to provide low-cost prescription and non-prescription drugs, medication and medical supplies to disadvantaged, elderly and disabled individuals. The basic component of the program must provide drugs and medications for COPD.
        Established the Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund, an interest-bearing account administered by the Bureau of Health, to provide research grants to develop and advance the understanding of lung disease, including COPD.
    • Massachusetts
      • In regulating pharmacist collaborative practice agreements, Massachusetts allows drug therapy management only in certain settings, including a collaborating pharmacist in a retail drug business with supervision by a physician and limited to the following: (1) patients 18 years or age; (2) an extension of 30 days of current drug therapy prescribed by the supervising physician; and (3) administration of vaccines or the modification of dosages of medications prescribed by the supervising physician for certain diseases, including COPD.
    • Nevada
      • Directed the Health Division to create the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Program to establish strategies for reducing the impact of COPD and to coordinate efforts to assist persons with COPD.
    • New Mexico
      • Request the Secretary of Health to convene a working group to study the causes and incidences of COPD and request the group to recommend effective strategies for the prevention and management of COPD, including increasing public awareness of its caucsu and the importance of early diagnosis.
    • Oklahoma
      • As a part of the Oklahoma Medicaid Reform Act of 2006, Oklahoma instructed its Health Care Authority to develop a formal disease management program to improve the quality of care and reduce the cost of care. The program may include COPD.. Established the Oklahoma Plan for Comprehensive Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease. This plan puts the Health Department in charge of developing a sustainable plan for decreasing the incidence of COPD. The plan includes, but not be limited to, public and patient education, improved access to care and treatment for COPD, and strategies to prevent COPD.
    • Washington DC
      • Established the AccessRx Program within the Department of Health aimed at increasing access to medications for low-income, elderly and uninsured residents. The Act specifies that the basic component of the program include the provision of drugs and medication for COPD