BILL NUMBER:S421

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to direct the commissioner of health to report upon the high
incidence of asthma in the state

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Directs the Commissioner of health to
study and report on the very high incidence of asthma in New York State

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill directs the commissioner of
health, within 90 days of passage of this legislation, to commence a
study, examine and evaluate the alarming and disproportionate
incidence of asthma in New York State. The following factors need to
be evaluated:
income level; race; gender; age group; housing accommodations: single
family dwelling, two to six family dwelling or housing project;
residence proximity to industrial sites. Within one year of the
effective date of this act, the commissioner shall report to the
governor and the legislature his or her findings and any
recommendations he or she deem necessary.

JUSTIFICATION:
Almost one in 13 school children suffer from asthma
              

making it the leading serious chronic illness in children and the
leading cause of hospitalizations for children under the age of 15.
More than 4.8 million children nationwide suffer from asthma and more
than 5,000 Americans die from the illness each year. It is estimated
that asthmatic children lose 10 million school days each year.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation has recently
identified over 50,000 school-aged children with asthma. The NYC
Department of Health has reported that in 2004, there were 10,603
emergency room admissions for pediatric asthma cases. In the entire
state there are over 1.6 million New Yorkers suffering from asthma of
which more than 380,000 are children. This health problem is serious
and growing. In addition, the health costs related to
hospitalizations for this disease are tremendous. The New York State
Department of Health estimates that cost at over $380 million
annually, of which $132 million is the Medicaid share of that expense.

From rural areas to small cities the asthma epidemic is impacting
children adversely.  In the Bronx County alone
there were 10,135 hospital cases of
asthma in children younger than 17 reported in 2002, at a
rate of more than 902 per 100,000. That is comparing to an average
rate of approximately 150 per 100,000 for the rest of the state. Poor
children under the age of 4 are four times more likely to be
hospitalized for asthma than children in high-income areas. Asthma is
an illness that is far too common among our poorest citizens. In New
York City, children are almost twice as likely to be hospitalized as
children nationwide.


Rural areas such as Fulton County have an asthma hospitalization rate
of 407 per 100,000 children under 17 years of age. Other parts of New
York State are also severely impacted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
asthma's impact on health, quality of life, and the economy are
substantial. The CDC has also found that the rates of severe asthma
continue to disproportionately affect poor and minority populations.
For example African-Americans visit emergency departments, are
hospitalized and die due to asthma at rates three times higher than
rates for white Americans.
This legislation will direct New York State to report on the
increasing rate of asthma in New York and to report their findings
and recommendation on reducing those rates within one year.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011/12:  S.1359/A.4429 - Passed Assembly
2009/10:  S.4477/A.4802 - Passed Assembly

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Not applicable.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.