| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 112 2975 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 262 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Schofield of the 63 |
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| 4 | 4 | | rd |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Scott of the 76 |
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| 6 | 6 | | th |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Erwin of the 32 |
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| 8 | 8 | | nd |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Jackson of the |
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| 10 | 10 | | 68 |
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| 11 | 11 | | th |
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| 12 | 12 | | , Davis of the 87 |
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| 13 | 13 | | th |
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| 14 | 14 | | , and others |
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| 15 | 15 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 16 | 16 | | Recognizing February 13, 2025, as Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol; and for other |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1 |
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| 18 | 18 | | purposes.2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, on Thursday, February 13, 2025, Representative Kim Schofield and the Georgia3 |
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| 20 | 20 | | Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America will host Lupus Advocacy Day at the state4 |
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| 21 | 21 | | capitol; and5 |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, lupus is an acute and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the6 |
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| 23 | 23 | | immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every7 |
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| 24 | 24 | | organ system in the body; and8 |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart, kidneys,9 |
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| 26 | 26 | | and brain, and thus has the potential to cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages,10 |
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| 27 | 27 | | and organ failure; and11 |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, at least 1.5 million Americans, including approximately 55,000 Georgians, are12 |
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| 29 | 29 | | currently living with lupus; and13 |
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| 30 | 30 | | H. R. 262 |
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| 31 | 31 | | - 1 - 25 LC 112 2975 |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, lupus is a major health issue that has a significant impact on the economy of |
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| 33 | 33 | | 14 |
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| 34 | 34 | | this state and takes an immeasurable physical, financial, and emotional toll on many families15 |
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| 35 | 35 | | in Georgia; and16 |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, the effects of lupus on a family can be devastating in that it is a chronic,17 |
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| 37 | 37 | | lifelong, and life-threatening disease, and despite its prevalence, it remains one of the least18 |
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| 38 | 38 | | recognizable and most misunderstood of all diseases, labeling lupus as the cruel mystery; and19 |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, lupus affects primarily young women in their crucial childbearing years, but it20 |
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| 40 | 40 | | can also affect men, children, and women of all ages; and21 |
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| 41 | 41 | | WHEREAS, Lupus Nephritis, a form of kidney disease, is a serious, life-threatening22 |
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| 42 | 42 | | complication of lupus. The need for screening in lupus for Lupus Nephritis is crucial for23 |
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| 43 | 43 | | early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Georgia Medicaid has the opportunity to play a24 |
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| 44 | 44 | | meaningful role in addressing the problem of insufficient screening by emphasizing its25 |
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| 45 | 45 | | importance to patients and healthcare providers. By doing so, Georgia Medicaid can help26 |
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| 46 | 46 | | improve patient outcomes and make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by lupus27 |
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| 47 | 47 | | and Lupus Nephritis; and28 |
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| 48 | 48 | | WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America is the nation's leading nonprofit voluntary29 |
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| 49 | 49 | | health organization dedicated to finding the causes and a cure for lupus while providing30 |
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| 50 | 50 | | support and services to all people affected by lupus; and31 |
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| 51 | 51 | | WHEREAS, 90 percent of every dollar raised by the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus32 |
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| 52 | 52 | | Foundation of America stays in Georgia to support the chapter's programs; and33 |
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| 53 | 53 | | H. R. 262 |
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| 54 | 54 | | - 2 - 25 LC 112 2975 |
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| 55 | 55 | | WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America provides resources for thousands of patients |
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| 56 | 56 | | 34 |
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| 57 | 57 | | and families, including support and information, physician referrals, public and professional35 |
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| 58 | 58 | | education, and grassroots advocacy on the state and federal level; and36 |
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| 59 | 59 | | WHEREAS, in 2014, Governor Nathan Deal established the Georgia Council on Lupus37 |
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| 60 | 60 | | Education and Advocacy to investigate the level of education and awareness of lupus across38 |
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| 61 | 61 | | the state; and39 |
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| 62 | 62 | | WHEREAS, the council has developed a state-wide action plan and established a40 |
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| 63 | 63 | | multidisciplinary collaborative that will launch lupus initiatives to increase knowledge,41 |
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| 64 | 64 | | educate healthcare providers, consumers, and legislators, and address early diagnosis, access42 |
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| 65 | 65 | | to care, and health disparities in lupus.43 |
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| 66 | 66 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that44 |
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| 67 | 67 | | the members of this body commend the work of the Lupus Foundation of America and other45 |
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| 68 | 68 | | organizations devoted to finding a cure for lupus and supporting the individuals and families46 |
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| 69 | 69 | | whose lives are affected by this autoimmune disease and recognize February 13, 2025, as47 |
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| 70 | 70 | | Lupus Advocacy Day at the state capitol.48 |
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| 71 | 71 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized49 |
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| 72 | 72 | | and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the50 |
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| 73 | 73 | | Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.51 |
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| 74 | 74 | | H. R. 262 |
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| 75 | 75 | | - 3 - |
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