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(A sample letter you can use drafted by the American Pain Foundation) Date_______ The Honorable (full name) Dear Representative (last name):
Pain care is a significant public health issue that is not formally addressed by our health care system. While Medicare and Medicaid treat pain related to an acute episode or to hospitalization, chronic pain is not covered by public or private health care insurance in general. A 1999 study entitled Chronic Pain in America found that only 1 in 4 of those with pain received adequate treatment. Yet untreated or under-treated pain places high costs our national economy. Pain affects over 75 million individuals every year, 50 million of those suffering from chronic pain. MAGNUM, The National Migraine Association notes 32 million Americans of which1 in 5 woman suffer from debilitating Migraine disease pain.* The recent (2002) American Productivity Audit estimates that pain costs our economy over $78 billion is lost productive work time, accounting for approximately 80 percent of lost time within the work environment. (Add here a story about someone you know who has experienced pain that has not been appropriately diagnosed and treated, or cite an example of how far someone in your congressional district would have to travel to receive adequate pain care.) The Pain Care Policy Act of 2003 provides important federal recognition of pain as a priority public health problem in the United States, and authorizes additional federal resources for pain care research, professional education, public awareness and professional training. In addition, it has provisions to improve access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment for pain in federally financed health care facilities and federally financed managed care programs. Please consider becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 1863. If you or your staff needs additional information, please contact Representative Rogers health staff at (202) 225-4872. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, * MAGNUM added this if you are a Migraineur. Feel free to note other Migraine key points as well if you like. Speak from the heart when you take the time to write you member of Congress!
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