GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1310*

Short Title:  CVD Data Act.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Warren; Gulley, Hoyle, Ledbetter, Martin of Guilford, Odom, and Rand.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 27, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH DATA UNIT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HEART DISEASE AND STROKE PREVENTION TASK FORCE.
Whereas, heart disease is the leading cause of death in North Carolina, and stroke is the third leading cause of death in North Carolina; and 
Whereas, in North Carolina, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of hospital expenditures, resulting in more than $2,000,000,000 in hospital charges during 1997; and
Whereas, the annual costs of cardiovascular disease to the health care system in the United States in 1996 were estimated to have been $151 billion, a 9% increase from the previous year; and 
Whereas, several organizations, both public and private, are currently collecting health outcome data on cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, there is no ongoing central coordination and assessment of these data for the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, available high quality CVD health outcome data are essential in order to:
(1)	Target CVD interventions, which will achieve efficient use of limited resources; 
(2)	Motivate CVD intervention participants, which will achieve effective utilization of limited resources; and
(3)	Evaluate CVD activities, which will then achieve accountable utilization of limited resources; and
Whereas, absence of such coordination has led to duplication of resources for CVD data assessment, missed opportunities for CVD prevention activities, and incomplete knowledge of the incidence of these diseases that are affecting North Carolina's vulnerable populations; and 
Whereas, high quality CVD health outcome data are essential tools in the prevention and treatment of CVD and to the effective, efficient utilization of the State's health promotion/disease prevention resources; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force must have comprehensive, timely, and specific data in order to design a comprehensive statewide plan to prevent heart disease and stroke and to assure the effective implementation of the plan; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of one hundred seventy thousand six hundred twenty-six dollars ($170,626) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to fund the Cardiovascular Disease Health Outcome Data Unit established under this act.
Section 2.  (a) The purposes of this act are to:
(1)	Provide for the coordination and assessment of all existing cardiovascular databases within the State; 
(2)	Build a CVD surveillance system according to national guidelines; 
(3)	Establish a mechanism for the evaluation of public and private CVD health promotion/disease prevention activities;
(4)	Integrate these existing activities with the CVD intervention efforts of the North Carolina Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force; and
(5)	Provide the State's citizens with an improved quality of life and society with a reduction of health care costs by developing a comprehensive tool for monitoring cardiovascular conditions that affect the health and physical well-being of hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.
(b) There is established the Cardiovascular Health Data Unit in the Department of Health and Human Resources.  The Department shall, through this Unit, do the following:
(1)	Identify existing CVD databases; 
(2)	Develop a strategic plan for effective utilization of existing CVD databases;
(3)	Negotiate collaborative efforts with managers of existing CVD databases;
(4)	Analyze existing data from CVD databases; and
(5)	Provide timely, sensitive and specific data to the North Carolina Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force.
In creating the Cardiovascular Health Data Unit established under this section, the Department shall ensure that sufficient staff are available and trained to effectively carry out the responsibilities of the Unit.
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.