Disability:
Overview of The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003

MAGNUM is thrilled to report that in Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 29, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) introduced H.R. 1863, the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003 in the House of Representatives. According to the American Pain Foundation (APF), "…this bill is an exceptional step toward gaining federal recognition of the importance of pain as a critical and unanswered health care problem in our nation."

In a letter dated May 1^st, 2003 from Eddie Rivas, Director of Government Affairs of the APF cautioned: "However, we still have plenty to do before this bill becomes law, not the least of which is getting similar legislation introduced in the Senate."

MAGNUM fully endorses Mr. Rivas efforts, and throws it support to goals of H.R. 1863 and the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003. Migraineurs and pain sufferers all over the nation will benefit from Congressman Rogers caring attention to see a better quality of life for those Americans fighting debilitating pain.

Mr. Rivas goes on to point out "HR 1863 is the first comprehensive legislation with a multidisciplinary approach. It was introduced in response to the Congressionally declared 2001 to 2010: The Decade Of Pain Control And Research which started in January 2001. The fact that this bill addresses research, professional education and training, public awareness, treatment in specific federal heath care plans, and seeks White House support for pain care lays a strong foundation for confronting this crisis that costs our economy between $80 and $100 billion each year."

MAGNUM is pleased to see our government acknowledge the terrible burden pain diseases. In the summer of 2001 we saw President Bush issued the first ever Migraine disease policy letter, which was read by world renowned Migraine and headache epidemiologist, Dr. Richard Lipton, to one of the largest medical gathering of head-pain doctors. Sadly due to the national pain of the attacks on Washington, DC and New York this major advance for pain patients saw media coverage rightfully overlooked. But it does show us that pain NGO’s are making strides forward on the serious nature of chronic pain issues and the quality of life for pain sufferers.

To that fact, we can see that over the past eighteen months, APF has been working collaboratively with the Pain Care Coalition (PCC) to develop a comprehensive pain care bill. According to sources, Representative Rogers says the bill incorporates many of our positions, although is not as comprehensive as our combined legislative ideas. This bill also reflects many of the suggestions we have collected over time from conversations with numerous groups representing health care providers, consumers, disease-specific organizations and others. APF wishes to thank the PCC for their early efforts in drafting this legislation.

MAGNUM has spoken to Representative Rogers’ Capitol Hill office, and has learned that the Congressman is now in the process of gathering support from his colleagues for the bill and is looking for cosponsors of the legislation.

Take a moment to peruse a review the following summary of the provisions of this legislation. To view the latest available version of H.R. 1863, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and click here to see the current legislation HR 1863 here at migraines.org.

According to the American Headache Society, national recognized pain advocate Dr. Joel Saper, Director of the MHNI of Ann Arbor, Michigan, former Chair of the Pain Care Coalition noted "Over the years, many advocates within the pain care community have worked tirelessly on behalf of our patients for the introduction of this kind of legislation. Congress has already declared the ten-year period of 2000 through 2010 as the Decade of Pain Control and Research, and this legislation will help cement that important commitment. We applaud Congressman Rogers for his important leadership in this area," said Saper.

If you would like to take action at this time, the American Pain Foundation has supplied a sample letter that could be used to write your Members of Congress to request her/his support as a cosponsor for H.R. 1863.

In addition, we have posted APF talking points for possible conversations about pain with media, Congressional offices, or others to get the word out.