DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
                                        PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
                                   HEALTH RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION
                                       ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND 20852


                                                            BUREAU OF HEALTH RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT





                TO COORDINATORS OF REGIONAL MEDICAL PROGRAMS, REGIONAL HEALTH
                ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH ARTHRITIS



                Subject:  Report of the Arthritis Conference held in Kansas City,
                          Missouri, January 19-20, 1975



                This transmits a copy of the conference report for your information.

                The report was developed from verbatim tapes and notes produced
                during the conference, and incorporates suggestions and inserts

                recommended by conference participants.  A chronological, trans-

                cript style has been employed in preparing the report to'reflect

                the perspectives of the participants, and the scope of their deliber-

                ations.  We believe that the contents will interest a broad spectrum

                of people concerned with the problems of arthritis.



                The conference was convened as a cooperative activity of grant  and

                professional organizations to improve communications among the directors

                of funded arthritis programs and projects, and to facilitate  joint

                response to common problems of the pilot program.  At the time of the

                conference, the pilot arthritis program had only one year's grant

                support available, and the effects of legislation very recently enacted

                were unknowni  This legislation is:  P.L. 93-640, "The National Arth--

                ritis Act of 1974"; and P.L. 93-641, "The National Health  Planning

                and Resources Development Act of 1974." In June 1975, funds  for  a






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                 year's continuation support of the pilot arthritis program were authorized

                 from the supplemental appropriation to the Bureau of  Health  Planning

                 and Resources Development, Health Resources Administration.



                 A primary concern of the conferees is that the experiences of the pilot

                 arthritis program be documented to preserve them for  future  investi-

                 gators, and programs which may develop.under the  new  legislation.  A

                 contract has been placed with the Mountain States Health Corporation,

                 Bosie, Idaho, to provide program documentation, and assessment.    For

                 this activity, the Contractor is employing  the resources of the Public

                 Accountability Reporting Group, a unit of the National Association

                 of Regional Medical Coordinators, with the cooperation of the American

                 Rheumatism Association, and the American Academy of  Orthopaedic  Sur-

                 georis.


                 The  Regional Medical Programs in which pilot arthritis activities have

                 been supported for one, or both of the grant years,  are:

                      Alabama                         Mississippi'
                      Albany                          Mountain States
                      .Arizona                        New Mexico
                      Arkansas                        North Carolina
                      California                      North Dakota
                      Central New York                Ohio Valley
                      Colorado/Wyoming                Oklahoma
                      Georgia                         Puerto Rico
                      Greater Delaware Valley         Susquenhanna Valley
                      Hawaii                          Tennessee Mid@South
                      Intermountain                   Texas
                      Iowa                            Tri-State
                      Kansas                          Virginia
                      Metro. Washington               Washington/Alaska
                      'Michigan
                                                      Western Pennsylvania
                                                      Wisconsin







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                We have arranged for the retention of a limited supply of the con-
                ference report      the Arthritis Foundation.  Requests for additional

                copies should be addressed to:


                                        The Arthritis Foundation
                                        -475 Riverside Drive
                                        New York City, New York  10027





                                                    Eugene Rubel


                Enclosure