Sec. 1. (a) The state department may establish an osteoporosis prevention and treatment education program.

     (b) If the state department establishes a program under subsection (a) the state department shall do the following:

(1) Design and implement strategies for raising public awareness concerning the causes and nature of osteoporosis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis.

(2) Develop and work with other state and local governmental agencies in presenting osteoporosis educational programs for physicians and other health professionals with the most current and accurate scientific and medical information on:

(A) prevention, diagnosis, and treatment;

(B) therapeutic decision making, including guidelines for detecting and treating the disease in special populations;

(C) risks and benefits of medications; and

(D) research advances.

(3) Conduct a statewide needs assessment to identify one (1) or more of the following concerning osteoporosis:

(A) Indiana specific data that analyzes the extent of osteoporosis in the state.

(B) Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nationwide.

(C) The level of public awareness about osteoporosis.

(D) The needs of osteoporosis patients and their families and caregivers.

(E) The needs of health care providers.

(F) The services available to osteoporosis patients.

(G) The existence of osteoporosis treatment programs.

(H) The existence of osteoporosis support groups.

(I) The existence of osteoporosis rehabilitative services.

(J) The number and location of bone density testing equipment.

     (c) Based on the results of the needs assessment conducted under subsection (b), the state department shall develop, maintain, and make available a list of osteoporosis services and osteoporosis health care providers who have a specialization in services to prevent, diagnose, and treat osteoporosis.

As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.4.