WHEREAS, Bronchial thermoplasty is delivered by the Alair
System, the first therapeutic device approved by the Food and
Drug Administration in 2010 for adult patients with severe
uncontrolled asthma; and
WHEREAS, Bronchial thermoplasty targets smooth muscles in the
airway by delivering a controlled specific amount of thermal
energy to the airway wall through a dedicated catheter; and
WHEREAS, Candidates for bronchial thermoplasty include adults
with severe persistent asthma whose asthma is uncontrolled
despite adherence to regular maintenance medications; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 79% of patients who were treated with
bronchial thermoplasty reported a significant improvement in
their asthma-related quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Patients with severe asthma who were treated with
bronchial thermoplasty experienced a 32% decrease in severe
asthma attacks, an 84% reduction in asthma-related emergency
room visits and 66% fewer days lost from work, school and daily
activities due to asthma; and
WHEREAS, According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America, 5 of the top 50 most challenging places to live with
asthma are located in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia,
Allentown, Pittsburgh, Scranton and Harrisburg; and
WHEREAS, Independence Blue Cross is the first insurance
provider in Pennsylvania to cover bronchial thermoplasty as
medically necessary for its severe asthmatic members and 1 of 18
insurance providers across the country; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize May 8,
2017, as "Bronchial Thermoplasty Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call on all
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