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Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:
HSB 516
A bill for an act relating to the self-administration and storage of bronchodilators and bronchodilator canisters and spacers relative to schools and students.(See HF 2280.)
Subcommittee members: Jeneary-CH, Bush, Mascher
Date: Monday, January 31, 2022
Time: 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: RM 304.1
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.
Comments Submitted:

01-31-2022
Kristina Hamilton [American Lung Association]
The American Lung Association is the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States. For more than 115 years, the Lung Association has been working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The Lung Association works on behalf of the nearly 37 million Americans living with lung diseases, including 327,000 patients with lung disease in Iowa.The American Lung Association is in strong support of HSB 516, a bill that will allow schools in Iowa to provide more immediate access to medications for students with asthma or suffering from respiratory distress. Asthma can be a deadly disease if flareups are not treated immediately. This bill has the potential to save lives and keep kids safe in schools. Because asthma attacks can occur anytime and often without warning, children with asthma should always have access to medication that can quickly reverse the blockages in their lungs. This lifesaving medication, called a shortacting bronchodilator, is easy to administer, inexpensive, and very safe. Thank you for your consideration.
Attachment
01-31-2022
Alicia Gerke []
My name is Alicia Gerke, MD, and I am a member of the American Lung Associations Local Leadership Board of Iowa. I am reaching out to express my strong support for HSB 516, which will allow schools in Iowa to provide more immediate access to medications for students with asthma or suffering from respiratory distress. Asthma can be a deadly disease if flareups are not treated immediately. This bill has the potential to save lives and keep kids safe in schools. Asthma impacts millions of lives and has a tremendous impact on our nations healthcare system and economy. In the U.S., close to 25 million Americans, including 5.5 million children have asthma. In Iowa, 41,600 children have asthma. In 2019, 34% of all county asthma emergency department (ED) visits were for children ages 514. Despite being the 31st most populated state in the United States, Iowa ranks 18th for asthma prevalence. Although asthma hospitalization rates have decreased over the years, there were still more than 700 in 2019, and more than 8,600 ED visits due to asthma. Nationally, asthma is responsible for more than $50 billion annually in healthcare costs and causes 7.9 million missed school days and 10.9 million missed days of work nationwide. Because asthma attacks can occur anytime and often without warning, children with asthma should always have access to medication that can quickly reverse the blockages in their lungs. This lifesaving medication, called a shortacting bronchodilator, is easy to administer, inexpensive, and very safe. I appreciate the Iowa General Assembly for their continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of our state and the desire to protect Iowa students. I strongly support HSB 516 as drafted and encourage swift action to move the bill out of subcommittee and onto passage by the full Human Resources Committee. Thank you for your consideration.
01-31-2022
John Bergman []
I am a member of the American Lung Association of Iowas Local Leadership Board. I am reaching out to express my strong support for HSB 516, which will allow schools in Iowa to provide more immediate access to medications for students with asthma or suffering from respiratory distress. Asthma can be a deadly disease if flareups are not treated immediately. This bill has the potential to save lives and keep kids safe in schools. Asthma impacts millions of lives and has a tremendous impact on our nations healthcare system and economy. In the U.S., close to 25 million Americans, including 5.5 million children have asthma. In Iowa, 41,600 children have asthma. In 2019, 34% of all county asthma emergency department (ED) visits were for children ages 514. Despite being the 31st most populated state in the United States, Iowa ranks 18th for asthma prevalence. Although asthma hospitalization rates have decreased over the years, there were still more than 700 in 2019, and more than 8,600 ED visits due to asthma. Nationally, asthma is responsible for more than $50 billion annually in healthcare costs and causes 7.9 million missed school days and 10.9 million missed days of work nationwide. Because asthma attacks can occur anytime and often without warning, children with asthma should always have access to medication that can quickly reverse the blockages in their lungs. This lifesaving medication, called a shortacting bronchodilator, is easy to administer, inexpensive, and very safe. I appreciate the Iowa General Assembly for their continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of our state and the desire to protect Iowa students. I strongly support HSB 516 as drafted and encourage swift action to move the bill out of subcommittee and onto passage by the full Human Resources Committee. Thank you for your consideration.
01-31-2022
Micki Sandquist [American Lung Association in Iowa]
My name is Micki Sandquist and I am the Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Iowa. I am reaching out to express my strong support for HSB 516, which will allow schools in Iowa to provide more immediate access to medications for students with asthma or suffering from respiratory distress. Asthma can be a deadly disease if flareups are not treated immediately. This bill has the potential to save lives and keep kids safe in schools. Asthma impacts millions of lives and has a tremendous impact on our nations healthcare system and economy. In the U.S., close to 25 million Americans, including 5.5 million children have asthma. In Iowa, 41,600 children have asthma. In 2019, 34% of all county asthma emergency department (ED) visits were for children ages 514. Despite being the 31st most populated state in the United States, Iowa ranks 18th for asthma prevalence. Although asthma hospitalization rates have decreased over the years, there were still more than 700 in 2019, and more than 8,600 ED visits due to asthma. Nationally, asthma is responsible for more than $50 billion annually in healthcare costs and causes 7.9 million missed school days and 10.9 million missed days of work nationwide. Because asthma attacks can occur anytime and often without warning, children with asthma should always have access to medication that can quickly reverse the blockages in their lungs. This lifesaving medication, called a shortacting bronchodilator, is easy to administer, inexpensive, and very safe. I appreciate the Iowa General Assembly for their continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of our state and the desire to protect Iowa students. I strongly support HSB 516 as drafted and encourage swift action to move the bill out of subcommittee and onto passage by the full Human Resources Committee. Thank you for your consideration.Please dont hesitate to let me know any questions. Thank you!Micki