PRINTER'S NO. 3521
No. 489 Session of 2002
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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