New Hampshire § 126-I-2 - Section 126-I:2 Program Established.

§ 126-I-2. Section 126-I:2 Program Established.

I. The department shall establish, promote, and maintain an osteoporosis prevention and education program to promote public awareness of causes of osteoporosis, options for prevention, and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. II. The program shall include the following: (a) Development of a public education and outreach campaign to promote osteoporosis prevention and education, including but not limited to: (1) Causes and nature of the disease. (2) Risk factors. (3) The role of hysterectomy. (4) Prevention of the disease, including nutrition, diet, and physical exercise. (5) Diagnostic procedures and appropriate indications for their use. (6) Hormone replacement, including benefits and risks. (7) Environmental safety and injury prevention. (8) The availability of osteoporosis diagnostic treatment services in the community. (9) The impact of long-term use of medications and medical treatment for other medical conditions on the development of osteoporosis. (b) Development of educational materials to be made available for consumers, particularly targeted toward high-risk groups, through local health departments, local physicians, other health care providers and women's organizations. (c) Development of professional education programs for health care providers to assist them in understanding research findings and the subjects set forth in paragraph I. (d) Development and maintenance of a list of current providers, including holistic providers, of specialized services for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Dissemination of the list shall be accompanied by a description of diagnostic procedures, appropriate indications for their use, and a cautionary statement about the current status of osteoporosis research, prevention and treatment. The statement shall also indicate that the department does not license, certify, or in any other way approve osteoporosis programs or centers in the state. III. The department shall conduct a 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, their families, and caregivers. (d) Needs of health care providers, including physicians, nurses, persons practicing naturopathic medicine, managed care organizations, and other health care providers. (e) The services available to osteoporosis patients. (f) Existence of osteoporosis treatment groups. (g) Existence of osteoporosis support groups. (h) Existence of rehabilitation services. (i) Number and location of bone density testing equipment. IV. The department shall gather appropriate data to track incidents of osteoporosis in this state. V. The department, with the assistance of the advisory council, shall annually evaluate the performance of the osteoporosis prevention and education program and issue a report of its findings and conclusions, together with the data collected pursuant to paragraph IV and recommendations for legislation, on or before November 1 of each year to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and appropriate committee chairs of both houses.