Detailed Summary

Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Program, which may include: (1) conducting, supporting, and promoting the coordination of research, investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases; (2) providing training, technical assistance, supplies, equipment, or services and assigning any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to a state or local health agency; (3) providing additional grant support to encourage the expansion of research related to the prevention and management of arthritis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); (4) carrying out national education and outreach activities to support, develop, and implement education initiatives and outreach strategies appropriate for arthritis and other rheumatic diseases; and (5) awarding grants to states or Indian tribes to support comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and to provide public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities related to arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

Allows the Secretary, in carrying out national education and outreach activities, to: (1) emphasize prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate management of arthritis and opportunities for effective patient self-management; and (2) give priority to reaching high-risk or underserved populations.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to expand and intensify programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concerning juvenile arthritis and related conditions.

(Sec. 4) Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director of CDC, to award grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, public or nonprofit private entities for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on juvenile arthritis. Requires the Secretary to ensure that epidemiological and other types of information are made available to NIH.

Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director of CDC, to support the development of a national juvenile arthritis population-based database to: (1) collect specific data for follow-up studies regarding the prevalence and incidence of juvenile arthritis; and (2) capture information on evidence-based health outcomes related to specific therapies and interventions.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary to support activities that provide for: (1) an increase in the number and size of institutional training grants to support pediatric rheumatology training; and (2) an expansion of public-private partnerships to promote educational training and fellowship opportunities for pediatric rheumatologists. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

Requires the Secretary to establish and carry out a pediatric rheumatology loan repayment program through which the Secretary shall repay student loans in exchange for service as a pediatric rheumatologist in an area with both a shortage of pediatric rheumatologists and the capacity to support pediatric rheumatology. Requires the Secretary to periodically assess: (1) the extent to which the loan repayment program is needed; and (2) the extent to which the program is effective in increasing the number of pediatric rheumatologists nationally and in areas with a shortage. Terminates the program if the Secretary determines it is no longer needed.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 9/27/2008: Received in the Senate.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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