[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 295 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 295

   Promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial 
 fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to 
    prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with this disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 2, 2011

    Ms. Granger (for herself, Mr. Gonzalez, and Mr. Ruppersberger) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial 
 fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to 
    prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with this disease.

Whereas atrial fibrillation is a cardiac condition when the usual coordinated 
        electrical activity in the atria of the heart becomes disorganized and 
        chaotic, hampering the atria's ability to fill the ventricles with 
        blood, and allowing blood to pool in the atria and form clots;
Whereas an estimated 2,500,000 Americans are living with atrial fibrillation, 
        the most common ``serious'' heart rhythm abnormality in people over the 
        age of 65 years and is associated with an increased long-term risk of 
        stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality, especially among women;
Whereas people over the age of 40 have a one-in-four risk of developing atrial 
        fibrillation in their lifetime;
Whereas an estimated 15 percent of strokes are the result of untreated atrial 
        fibrillation, a condition that dramatically increases the risk of 
        stroke, approximately 5 times over the general population;
Whereas atrial fibrillation accounts for approximately 529,000 hospital 
        discharges annually;
Whereas it is estimated that atrial fibrillation costs $3,600 per patient for a 
        total cost burden in the United States of $15,700,000,000;
Whereas better patient and health care provider education is needed for the 
        timely recognition of atrial fibrillation symptoms;
Whereas an electrocardiogram is an effective and risk-free screen for heart 
        rhythm irregularities and can be part of a routine preventive exam;
Whereas there is a dearth of outcome performance measures that focus on the 
        management of atrial fibrillation; and
Whereas evidence-based care guidelines improve patient outcomes and prevent 
        unnecessary hospitalizations for individuals with undiagnosed atrial 
        fibrillation and for patients once atrial fibrillation is detected: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services should--
            (1) enhance quality of care and patient safety by--
                    (A) advancing the development of process and 
                outcome measures for the management of atrial 
                fibrillation by national developers;
                    (B) supporting pilots and demonstration projects, 
                including care transitions, support services, and 
                appropriate postacute care, to reduce avoidable 
                hospital admissions and readmissions for patients with 
                atrial fibrillation; and
                    (C) facilitating the adoption of evidence-based 
                guidelines by the medical community to improve patient 
                outcomes;
            (2) advance atrial fibrillation research and education by--
                    (A) encouraging basic science research to determine 
                the causes and optimal treatments for atrial 
                fibrillation;
                    (B) exploring development of a screening tool and 
                protocols to determine the risk for the development of 
                atrial fibrillation; and
                    (C) enhancing current surveillance and tracking 
                systems to include atrial fibrillation; and
            (3) improve access to appropriate medical care for patients 
        suffering from atrial fibrillation by encouraging education 
        programs that promote collaboration among the Federal health 
        agencies and that increase public and clinician awareness of 
        atrial fibrillation, including risk assessment, screening, 
        treatment, and appropriate clinical management.
                                 <all>