March 7, 2006 CONTACT: Susan Straub
Harper Angel bill to
establish osteoporosis
prevention and education
program passes Senate
FRANKFORT -- The Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Senator Denise Harper Angel to establish an osteoporosis education and prevention program.
"Osteoporosis affects 700,000 Kentuckians and it is four times more likely to strike women," said Harper Angel, D-Louisville. "This is a debilitating, costly disease that is entirely preventable."
Osteoporosis is a silent disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Kentuckians' bad health habits increase their frequency of osteoporosis. "Lack of exercise, bad diets and smoking are all factors in causing osteoporosis," Harper Angel said.
The answer is prevention and education and that's why 33 states have similar programs, Harper Angel said. "The best defense is building strong bones during childhood and adolescence. This bill envisions education programs that will target young girls to improve bone health in the long-term."
Harper Angel said education can also help older victims. "Once bone density has decreased, physical activity can slow bone loss or help build new bone," she said. "Victims of osteoporosis need to know there are steps they can take to avoid the most serious consequences of this disease."
Education and prevention can also save health care dollars, Harper Angel said. "This is a relatively expensive disease. Medicaid served almost 11,500 Kentucky patients with osteoporosis in 2005 at a price of $209 million." Medicaid is the state/federal health care program for the poor.
The bill would provide $90,000 to hire a nurse and provide support -- education materials and travel dollars.
"It's a first step, but an important one," Harper Angel said.
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Note: For a high-res. JPEG photo file of Senator Harper Angel, please log on to www.lrc.state.ky.us/pubinfo/ephoto.htm.