Rogers: Chronic Pain Affects Lives, Livelihoods
Press Release
Rogers: Chronic Pain Affects Lives, Livelihoods
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-MI-08, has teamed up with Rep. Lois Capps, D-CA-23, to introduce the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007. The measure addresses the chronic pain issues of more than 50 million Americans.
"Pain keeps sufferers from their family, work and the community, and in many cases it is so severe it can be life threatening," Rogers said. "Pain is linked to such diseases as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, HIV-AIDS, and hundreds of other illnesses. Back pain alone affects more than 70 percent of all Americans at some time in their lives, with the cost for medical services topping $26 billion annually.
"The need for education, access and research regarding chronic pain care has long been at the crisis stage and we need to move forward with finding solutions."
Capps, a registered nurse, said the measure introduced today by the two members of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will address key issues in the crisis.
"Pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States and is straining our health care system," Capps said. "Fortunately we don't have to remain debilitated by pain. This legislation takes several important steps to improve the assessment, understanding, and treatment of pain. Hopefully this will provide much needed relief for many people suffering from pain."
The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007 would authorize the Institute of Medicine to conduct a special conference on pain care; establish permanent authorization for the pain consortium at the National Institutes for Health (NIH); set up a grant program for pain care education and training; and direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and implement a pain management public awareness campaign.
Rogers has been advocating for a national pain care policy since 2001 and was successful in getting a portion of his measure included in the NIH Reform Act of 2006.
"A National Pain Care Policy Act would be a victory for tens of millions of Americans living with chronic pain and the negative impact it has on their lives, the lives of their families, and on the nation's health and well-being."
Rogers and Capps expect the measure to be referred to their committee.
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