O.C.G.A. § 31-47-1: Purpose of program; needs assessment; coordination and utilization with other programs.

(a) The Department of Public Health shall establish, promote, and maintain an Arthritis Prevention and Control Program in order to raise public awareness, educate consumers, educate and train health professionals, teachers, and human services providers, and for other purposes.

(b) As a part of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program, the Department of Public Health shall periodically conduct a needs assessment to identify:

(1) Epidemiological and other public health research being conducted within this state;

(2) Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nation-wide and within this state;

(3) The level of public and professional arthritis awareness;

(4) The needs of people with arthritis, their families, and caregivers;

(5) Educational and support service needs of health care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care organizations, and other health care providers;

(6) The services available to a person with arthritis;

(7) The existence of arthritis treatment, self-management, physical activity, and other educational programs; and

(8) The existence of rehabilitation services.

(c) The Department of Public Health shall use, but shall not be limited to, strategies consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan and existing state planning efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge about the causes and nature of arthritis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early detection, ways to minimize preventable pain, and options for diagnosing and treating the disease.

(d) (1) Subject to appropriation or access to other private or public funds, the Department of Public Health may replicate and use successful arthritis programs and enter into contracts and purchase materials or services from entities with appropriate expertise for such services and materials as are necessary to carry out the goals of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.

(2) Subject to appropriation or access to other private or public funds, the Department of Public Health may enter into agreements with national organizations with expertise in arthritis to implement parts of the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program.