HR 168
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 168
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 2011
Mr. STEARNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. IMPROVEMENT OF PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT
OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE.
(a) Treatment of COPD- Subject to the availability of appropriations provided
for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
(1) develop treatment protocols and related tools for the prevention, diagnosis,
treatment, and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and
(2) improve biomedical and prosthetic research programs regarding chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.
(b) Pilot Programs- Subject to the availability of appropriations provided
for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director
of the Indian Health Service, and the Administrator of the Health Resources
and Services Agency, shall develop pilot programs to demonstrate best practices
for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for
such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop
improved techniques and best practices for assisting individuals with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease in successfully quitting smoking.
(2) UNIQUE NEEDS OF COPD PATIENTS- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary--
(A) shall identify subpopulations of individuals with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease that have unique needs with respect to quitting smoking;
and
(B) may conduct research to determine whether the techniques and best
practices developed under paragraph (1) are different from techniques
and best practices used to assist individuals with other chronic diseases
in successfully quitting smoking.
END
