CA SCR75

Designates November 2014 as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month in California and encourages public officials and citizens to increase awareness of COPD symptoms and prevention methods.

Encourages the State Department of Health Care Services, State Department of Public Health, and other state entities to partner with COPD stakeholders to improve education regarding COPD while implementing a statewide strategic plan.

Identifies COPD as the third leading cause of death in the United States, with over 138,000 deaths in 2010 and an estimated 1.6 million Californians suffering from the disease.

Notes that COPD hospitalizations cost California approximately $1.34 billion in medical costs as of 2006, and early diagnosis through spirometry testing can reduce financial burden on publicly funded health care programs including Medi-Cal.

Emphasizes that primary care physicians require training in the latest diagnostic and treatment methods for COPD and that overcoming cultural, language, and literacy challenges is necessary to achieve early diagnosis across California's diverse populations.