R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Asthma Coalition of Texas (ACT) has been formed
 1-2     to improve the health care of people with asthma and to reduce the
 1-3     serious consequences of this disease; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Asthma is a chronic, potentially fatal illness that
 1-5     affects a large number of people, and the incidence of asthma is
 1-6     increasing; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Over one million people in Texas suffer from this
 1-8     disease, more than one-third of them children under the age of 18;
 1-9     the percentage of Texas children with asthma nearly doubled in the
1-10     last two decades and is expected to double again by 2020; and
1-11           WHEREAS, The annual cost of asthma to Texas has risen to more
1-12     than $750 million; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Asthma is responsible for one of every six pediatric
1-14     emergency visits and is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization
1-15     for children under the age of 15; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Children miss more than one million school days
1-17     every year because of asthma, and it is the most common cause of
1-18     school absences due to chronic illness; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Among adults, asthma attacks account for over
1-20     200,000 lost workdays annually; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Each year asthma causes more than 300 preventable
1-22     deaths in Texas; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Many studies have shown that a combination of simple
1-24     prevention and control techniques reduces asthma symptoms, permits
 2-1     normal day-to-day activities, lowers total treatment costs, and
 2-2     virtually eliminates the risk of death due to asthma; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, To address the challenges posed by this illness,
 2-4     organizations concerned with health care, public education, public
 2-5     health, patient advocacy, and the environment, together with groups
 2-6     representing insurance providers and employers, have created the
 2-7     Asthma Coalition of Texas; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, ACT has prepared the Texas Asthma Plan, which
 2-9     outlines measures to successfully manage the disease while lowering
2-10     the total health care costs for asthma; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Cost-effective models of treatment partnerships
2-12     between patients, health care professionals, and payers have been
2-13     shown to achieve all or many of the goals shared by these groups
2-14     and by the Asthma Coalition of Texas; and
2-15           WHEREAS, By working to improve the care of asthma patients
2-16     and to maximize their health, to reduce the economic burden of
2-17     asthma on Texas communities, and to eliminate preventable deaths
2-18     caused by this disease, the Asthma Coalition of Texas is performing
2-19     a vital service for the people of this state and its efforts are
2-20     truly deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
2-21           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-22     Legislature hereby commend the Asthma Coalition of Texas for its
2-23     work to improve health care for asthma patients and to reduce the
2-24     personal and economic costs of this chronic illness.
                                                                   McClendon
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 146 was adopted by the House on
         January 30, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House