Maryland Health - General Section 13-1902

      (a)      There is an Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Task Force in the Department.

      (b)      The Task Force consists of the following 16 members:

            (1)      The Department's osteoporosis coordinator; and

            (2)      The following 15 members, appointed by the Governor:

                  (i)      A representative of a women's health organization;

                  (ii)      Nine health care providers representing the following professions:

                        1.      Radiology;

                        2.      Orthopedics;

                        3.      Nursing;

                        4.      Physical therapy;

                        5.      Rheumatology;

                        6.      Nutrition;

                        7.      Social work;

                        8.      Geriatrics; and

                        9.      Pharmacy;

                  (iii)      Two individuals with osteoporosis;

                  (iv)      One public health educator;

                  (v)      One expert in bone and osteoporosis research, prevention, and treatment; and

                  (vi)      One local health officer, or the local health officer's designee.

      (c)      The Secretary shall designate the chairman of the Task Force.

      (d)      The Department shall provide staff for the Task Force.

      (e)      A majority of the members serving on the Task Force is a quorum.

      (f)      The Task Force shall conduct a needs assessment to identify:

            (1)      Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs concerning osteoporosis nationwide;

            (2)      The level of public and professional awareness about osteoporosis;

            (3)      The needs of osteoporosis patients, and the families and caregivers of osteoporosis patients;

            (4)      The needs of health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and managed care organizations, that provide services to osteoporosis patients;

            (5)      The services available to osteoporosis patients;

            (6)      The existence of osteoporosis treatment groups, support groups, and rehabilitation services; and

            (7)      The amount and location of bone density testing equipment.

      (g)      The Task Force shall make recommendations to the Department about:

            (1)      Any legislation or regulation that may be necessary or desirable to implement this subtitle;

            (2)      Developing a public education and outreach campaign to promote osteoporosis prevention and education that includes information about:

                  (i)      The causes and nature of the disease;

                  (ii)      Risk factors;

                  (iii)      Methods to prevent the disease, including nutrition, diet, and physical exercise;

                  (iv)      Diagnostic procedures and appropriate indications for their use;

                  (v)      Hormone replacement, including benefits and risks;

                  (vi)      Environmental safety and injury prevention;

                  (vii)      The availability of osteoporosis diagnostic treatment services in the community; and

                  (viii)      The impact of long-term use of medications and medical treatment for other medical conditions on the development of osteoporosis;

            (3)      Developing educational materials that are targeted particularly toward high-risk groups and made available for consumers through local health departments, local physicians, other health care providers, and women's organizations;

            (4)      Developing professional education programs for health care providers to assist providers in understanding research findings and the matters specified in item (2) of this subsection;

            (5)      (i)      Developing and maintaining a list of current providers, including holistic providers, of specialized services for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; and

                  (ii)      Disseminating the list with a description of diagnostic procedures, appropriate indications for the use of the procedures, and a cautionary statement that:

                        1.      Indicates the current status of osteoporosis research, prevention, and treatment; and

                        2.      States that the Department does not license, certify, or in any other way approve osteoporosis programs or centers in the State; and

            (6)      Gathering appropriate data to track the incidence of osteoporosis in the State.

      (h)      The Task Force may hold public hearings and solicit information from any person, organization, or group as the Task Force deems necessary.