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PRINTER'S NO. 3411
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
858
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY HANNA, RYAN, BERNSTINE, MURT, READSHAW, MILLARD,
LONGIETTI, YOUNGBLOOD, NEILSON, BURNS, DiGIROLAMO,
CALTAGIRONE, WARREN, D. COSTA, McCLINTON, BIZZARRO AND
MARSICO, APRIL 23, 2018
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 23, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing May 1, 2018, as "Bronchial Thermoplasty Awareness
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "Bronchial Thermoplasty Awareness Day" is taking
place on May 1, 2018; and
WHEREAS, "Bronchial Thermoplasty Awareness Day" is organized
by Boston Scientific in collaboration with Allergy & Asthma
Network to raise awareness about severe asthma and improve
asthma care throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, This year is the third year that Boston Scientific
is organizing events and preparing and distributing materials
and resources about bronchial thermoplasty throughout the
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Asthma is a common chronic disorder of the airways
that is complex and characterized by variable and recurring
symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness
and underlying inflammation; and
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WHEREAS, Approximately 24 million Americans suffer from
asthma; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 3,400 people worldwide die from asthma every
year; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 980,000 Pennsylvanians live with
asthma; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 155 Pennsylvanians die from asthma every
year; and
WHEREAS, Bronchial thermoplasty is delivered by the Alair
System, the first therapeutic device-based procedure 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, five of the top 50 most challenging places to live with
asthma are located in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia,
Allentown, Pittsburgh, Scranton and Harrisburg; and
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WHEREAS, Independence Blue Cross, Geisinger Health Plan and
Gateway Health Plan are the first insurance providers in
Pennsylvania to cover bronchial thermoplasty as medically
necessary for its severe asthmatic members and medical
assistance recipients; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize May 1,
2018, as "Bronchial Thermoplasty Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call on all
Pennsylvania licensed insurance companies to cover the procedure
of bronchial thermoplasty.
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