PRINTER'S NO. 3521

        INTRODUCED BY BUTKOVITZ, MARCH 27, 2002

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           MARCH 27, 2002

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Designating April 10, 2002, as "2002 Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea
     2     Awareness Day."

     3     WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is proud to join Awake In Philly
     4  Community Education Group as it organizes the second annual
     5  "Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" on April 10, 2002; and
     6     WHEREAS, An estimated 712,899 Pennsylvanians suffer from
     7  sleep apnea, a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing
     8  disorder that can be treated in most cases; and
     9     WHEREAS, Untreated, sleep apnea leads to depression, sexual
    10  dysfunction and hypertension as well as an increased risk for
    11  heart attack, stroke and automobile accidents; and
    12     WHEREAS, Sleep apnea can be successfully treated without
    13  surgery or other invasive action; and
    14     WHEREAS, Through intervention and diagnosis, overall health
    15  care costs in this Commonwealth may be reduced; and
    16     WHEREAS, Awake In Philly is working to have the insurance
    17  industry recognize that coverage for sleep medicine, including

     1  sleep studies, positive airway pressure devices and other
     2  related supplies could help reduce overall health care costs and
     3  improve the general health of the insured; and
     4     WHEREAS, Numerous studies have concluded that the public,
     5  policymakers and primary care physicians lack basic sleep
     6  knowledge; and
     7     WHEREAS, Medical students receive an average of two hours of
     8  instruction in basic sleep science, covering more than 80
     9  classified sleep disorders; and
    10     WHEREAS, The societal and economic costs of untreated and
    11  undiagnosed sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and chronic
    12  sleepiness, are devastating: sleep deprivation and untreated
    13  sleep disorders are estimated to cost Americans over $100
    14  billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick
    15  leave and property and environmental damage; and
    16     WHEREAS, The Department of Transportation estimates that the
    17  1997 economic impact loss due to traffic accidents was $987 for
    18  every person in this Commonwealth; and
    19     WHEREAS, Organizers of the "2002 Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea
    20  Awareness Day" are committed to educating business, government
    21  and the public on the impact of untreated and undiagnosed sleep
    22  disorders; and
    23     WHEREAS, During "2002 Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness
    24  Day," Awake In Philly and other organizations are sharing
    25  information at events in malls and other locations throughout
    26  this Commonwealth; therefore be it
    27     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April
    28  10, 2002, as "2002 Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day."


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