Create a centralized Chronic Pain Information Hub to make this information readily available to researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and people with pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe Impact of ARCPA<\/b><\/h3>\n
Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States. More than 60 million Americans live with chronic pain, and more than 21 million live with high-impact chronic pain, which frequently limits life or work activities. Pain in America costs as much as $635 billion each year in direct healthcare costs, lost productivity, and disability payments.<\/span><\/p>\nBut despite this enormous impact, chronic pain continues to be profoundly misunderstood and under-researched.<\/span><\/p>\nResearchers and policymakers are obstructed by the lack of reliable, updated, standardized data about who is affected by chronic pain, the effectiveness of treatments, and gaps in care. This legislation would help set the stage for more responsive policy, targeted research, and improved patient outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\nU.S. Pain Foundation has worked for years on the bill\u2014which has also been supported by a number of patient advocacy organizations, medical societies, and advocates.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cARCPA isn\u2019t just about data,\u201d said Nicole Hemmenway, CEO of the U.S. Pain Foundation. \u201cIt\u2019s about paving the way to better research and policy, expanded treatment options, and renewed hope for the countless Americans impacted every single day by chronic pain. We are proud to work on this bill, and grateful to the legislators who are recognizing and responding to this need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nHear From the U.S. Senators Sponsoring the Bill<\/b><\/h3>\n
Tim Kaine:<\/b> \u201cOver 60 million Americans live with debilitating and often life-altering chronic pain conditions. We must provide researchers with the tools and resources they need to understand pain, enhance treatment, and improve the lives of all those struggling with chronic pain. I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to help provide much-needed relief to every person living with these conditions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nKevin Cramer:<\/b> \u201cLiving with chronic pain shouldn\u2019t mean living without hope. Too many Americans have spent years searching for answers and trying inadequate treatments because of an information gap specific to chronic pain conditions. By strengthening research, especially for non-opioid solutions, and making it easier to share what\u2019s working, we can help doctors provide better care and give patients more effective treatment options.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nAndy Kim:<\/b> \u201cBetter research and data means better health outcomes for the millions of Americans with chronic pain. This bipartisan bill not only gives those suffering the recognition they\u2019ve long gone without but takes concrete steps toward the relief they deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nSteve Daines:<\/b> \u201cAlthough tens of millions of Americans live with chronic pain, it is a disease that we don\u2019t fully understand. I\u2019m proud to work with my Senate colleagues to provide the best data and tools for researching, treating, and providing relief for chronic pain so that those living with the disease can live better lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n