To implement the purposes of the fund the department may establish an Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program and if funds are available and received from the Osteoporosis Education Fund may:
(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.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 79, Section 2.