A Medtronic Pain Management Resource

Legislation May Change Pain Dialogue

Those who live with chronic pain are not surprised to learn that pain is the most common reason Americans enter the health care system and is a leading contributor to health care costs. Providing adequate pain management is essential to preserving quality of life for those affected, and yet individuals often face barriers to proper assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 has been introduced in the US House of Representatives and Senate. The bill is designed to address many of these barriers by:

  • Authorizing an Institute of Medicine conference on pain care to increase awareness, identify barriers to care and establish an agenda to address them
  • Requiring the Pain Consortium at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a coordinated national agenda for research on pain and to convene an annual conference to make recommendations for pain research and other activities conducted by NIH
  • Creating a grant program to educate and train health professionals in pain assessment and care
  • Developing a national campaign to educate consumers, patients, families and caregivers on the significance of pain as a national public health problem, the risks if not treated appropriately, treatment options and available resources

Medtronic is helping to get the word out about this important pain legislation by partnering with the American Pain Foundation. Action alerts are sent via email and regular mail to individuals participating in the Medtronic It’s Up to Us grassroots advocacy program. Any person who is interested in protecting patient access to neuromodulation-related therapies can join It’s Up to Us.

“The action alerts provide education on the legislation and guidance for contacting members of Congress to request support for the bills,” explains Mike Hagenson, manager of State Government Affairs for Medtronic Neuromodulation. “Members of Congress want to hear from individuals who live in their district when an issue is important to them. This is one of the most effective means for change.”

It is not too late to get involved. Those interested in learning more about the bill and contacting their members of Congress can visit www.PainFoundation.org, click on “Take Action Now,” and look for information on the National Pain Care Policy Act. To join It’s Up to Us, call 1-800-468-9749 or send an email to PreservingTherapyAccess@Medtronic.com

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