26:2R-3 Establishment of osteoporosis prevention and education program.

3. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish an osteoporosis prevention and education program in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to promote: public awareness of the causes of osteoporosis; options for prevention; the value of early detection; and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The department may accept, for that purpose, any special grant of money, services, or property from the federal government or any of its agencies, or from any foundation, organization, or medical school.

b. The program shall include the following:

(1) Development of a public education and outreach campaign to promote osteoporosis prevention and education, including, but not limited to, the following subjects:

(a) The cause and nature of the disease;

(b) Risk factors;

(c) The role of hysterectomy;

(d) Prevention of osteoporosis, including nutrition, diet, and physical exercise;

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

(f) Hormone replacement, including the benefits and risks;

(g) Environmental safety and injury prevention; and

(h) Availability of osteoporosis diagnostic treatment services in the community.

(2) Development of educational materials to be made available for consumers, particularly targeted to high-risk groups, through local boards of health, physicians, other health care providers, including, but not limited to, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, and clinics, and women's organizations.

(3) Development of professional education programs for health care providers to assist them in understanding research findings and the subjects set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(4) Development and maintenance of a list of current 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 this State.

L.1997, c.191, s.3; amended 2012, c.17, s.292.