Enhancing public health activities related to arthritis through the national arthritis action plan

Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 314 the following:

315.

National arthritis action plan

(a)

Establishment of plan

The Secretary may develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan (in this section referred to as the Plan) consistent with this section. (b)

Control, prevention, and surveillance

(1)

In general

Under the Plan, the Secretary may, directly or through competitive grants to eligible entities, conduct, support, and promote the coordination of research, investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. (2)

Training and technical assistance

(A)

Provision

Upon the request of an applicant receiving a grant under paragraph (1), the Secretary may, subject to subparagraph (B), provide training, technical assistance, supplies, equipment, or services for the purpose of aiding the applicant in carrying out grant activities and, for such purpose, may detail to the applicant any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services. (B)

Corresponding reduction in payments

With respect to a request described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of payments under the grant under paragraph (1) to the applicant involved by an amount equal to the costs of detailing personnel (including pay, allowances, and travel expenses) and the fair market value of any supplies, equipment, or services provided by the Secretary. (3)

Arthritis prevention research at the centers for disease control and prevention

The Secretary may provide additional grant support under this subsection to encourage the expansion of research related to the prevention and management of arthritis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (4)

Eligible entity

For purposes of this subsection, the term eligible entity means a public or private nonprofit entity that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary, in the application described in subsection (e), the ability of the entity to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). (c)

Education and outreach

(1)

In general

Under the Plan, the Secretary may coordinate and carry out national education and outreach activities, directly or through the provision of grants to eligible entities, to support, develop, and implement education initiatives and outreach strategies appropriate for arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. (2)

Initiatives and strategies

Initiatives and strategies implemented under paragraph (1) may include public awareness campaigns, public service announcements, and community partnership workshops, as well as programs targeted to businesses and employers, managed care organizations, and health care providers. (3)

Priority

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary— (A)may emphasize prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate management of arthritis, and opportunities for effective patient self-management; and (B)may give priority to reaching high-risk or underserved populations. (4)

Collaboration

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult and collaborate with stakeholders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors with expertise relating to arthritis control, prevention, and treatment. (5)

Eligible entity

Comprehensive State grants

(1)

In general

Under the Plan, the Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to provide support for comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and to enable such entities to provide public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities related to arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. (2)

Application

The Secretary may only award a grant under this subsection to an eligible entity that submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require, including a comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan that— (A)is developed with the advice of stakeholders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors that have expertise relating to arthritis control, prevention, and treatment that increase the quality of life and decrease the level of disability; (B)is intended to reduce the morbidity of arthritis, with priority on preventing and controlling arthritis in at-risk populations and reducing disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and quality of care in underserved populations; (C)describes the arthritis-related services and activities to be undertaken or supported by the entity; and (D)demonstrates the relationship the entity has with the community and local entities and how the entity plans to involve such community and local entities in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1). (3)

Use of funds

An eligible entity may use amounts received under a grant awarded under this subsection to conduct, in a manner consistent with the comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan submitted by the entity in the application under paragraph (2)— (A)public health surveillance and epidemiological activities relating to the prevalence of arthritis and assessment of disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and care; (B)public information and education programs; and (C)education, training, and clinical skills improvement activities for health professionals, including allied health personnel. (4)

Eligible entity

For purposes of this subsection, the term eligible entity means a State or an Indian tribe. (e)

General application

The Secretary may only award a grant under subsection (b) or (c) to an entity that submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require, including a description of how funds received under a grant awarded under such subsection will supplement or fulfill unmet needs identified in a comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan of the entity. (f)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Indian tribe

The term Indian tribe has the meaning given such term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. (2)

State

The term State means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (g)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1)for fiscal year 2012, $14,600,000; (2)for fiscal year 2013, $16,000,000; (3)for fiscal year 2014, $17,700,000; (4)for fiscal year 2015, $19,400,000; and (5)for fiscal year 2016, $21,400,000.