(1) The State Department of Health may establish, maintain and promote an osteoporosis prevention and treatment education program in order to raise public awareness, educate consumers and educate health professionals and teachers, and for other purposes, as provided in this section.

(2) The department may design and implement strategies for raising public awareness on the causes and nature of osteoporosis, personal risk factors, value of prevention and early detection and options for diagnosing and treating the disease.

(3) The department may develop and work with other agencies in presenting educational programs for physicians and other health professionals in the most up-to-date, accurate scientific and medical information on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment, therapeutic decision-making, including guidelines for detecting and treating the disease in special populations, risks and benefits of medications and research advances.

(4) The department may conduct a needs assessment to identify:

(a) Available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nationwide;

(b) The level of public and professional awareness about osteoporosis;

(c) The needs of osteoporosis patients, their families and caregivers;

(d) Needs of health-care providers, including physicians, nurses, managed care organizations and other health-care providers;

(e) The services available to osteoporosis patients;

(f) Existence of osteoporosis treatment programs;

(g) Existence of osteoporosis support groups;

(h) Existence of rehabilitation services; and

(i) Number and location of bone density testing equipment.

(5) Based on the needs assessment conducted under subsection (4) of this section, the department may develop, maintain and make available a list of osteoporosis-related services and osteoporosis health-care providers with specialization in services to prevent, diagnose and treat osteoporosis.