MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Huggins

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE NATIONAL PROCLAMATION OF NATIONAL HEART FAILURE AWARENESS WEEK AND URGING THE ADOPTION OF CERTAIN MEDICAL PRACTICE AND PAYOR REIMBURSEMENT GUIDELINES REGARDING CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.

WHEREAS, each year there are 550,000 new cases of congestive heart failure diagnosed, with 200,000 deaths and one million hospitalizations per year due to the disease; and

WHEREAS, congestive heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in patients over the age of 65; and

WHEREAS, congestive heart failure patients with the most severe symptoms have approximately 50% one-year survival rate and half of the patients with even mild disease die within 5 years; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of patients are not diagnosed until late in the course of disease; and

WHEREAS, a conservative estimate of annual U.S. health expenditures for congestive heart failure is in excess of Ten Billion Dollars with the largest portion, Eight Billion Dollars, of this expenditure for the cost of hospitalizations; and

WHEREAS, although current treatment guidelines recommend that approximately 80% of heart failure patients receive ACE inhibitors in combination with beta blockers to extend life and reduce costly hospitalizations but only 45% of patients are treated with ACE inhibitors and 20% of patients receive beta blockers; and

WHEREAS, the primary goals of the "National Heart Failure Awareness Week" are: (1) to promote research related to all aspects of heart failure and provide a forum for presentation of that research; (2) to educate heart failure caregivers and patients through programs, publications, and other media allowing for more effective treatment and diagnosis of heart failure; and (3) to enhance the quality and duration of life for those with heart failure:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby endorse the national proclamation of "National Heart Failure Awareness Week."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State of Mississippi endorses the National Proclamation of National Heart Failure Awareness week.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State Board of Health transmit the treatment guidelines for congestive heart failure published by the Heart Failure Society of America, Inc., to the State Medical Licensure Board while urging their adoption of these guidelines in their practice.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That physicians and payers should be encouraged to administer or provide reimbursement for echocardiograms to all patients over 50 years of age with a history of heart disease and begin appropriate treatment as early as possible.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That physicians and payers should be encouraged to prescribe or provide reimbursement for the standard of care for congestive heart failure, including FDA approved beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, as well as other therapies that have been shown to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with congestive heart failure.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature endorses the inclusion of the latest treatment advances for congestive heart failure in the curriculum of the University Medical Center.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the State Board of Health and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for appropriate action, and that copies be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.