September 2003

JMPR Associates, Inc.

Pain is America's number-one public health problem

It’s time to do something say lawmakers, care providers and patients

  • Rep. Mike Rogers Sponsoring National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003
  • American Pain Society Launching National Public Awareness Campaign
  • Pain Organizations Activate Decade of Pain Control and Research

Chronic pain affects at least one in five Americans, making it the nation's most urgent and ignored health issue. Today, many suffer in silence from untreated or undertreated pain because they don't have access to appropriate care or feel stigmatized about getting treatment. Rep. Mike Rogers (R. Mich.) has introduced long-awaited legislation, HR 1863 the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003, to improve pain treatment nationwide and allocate more resources for pain research. Its passage, however, will depend largely on improving public awareness and understanding of the plight of those who deal with unrelenting pain everyday pain and their need for accessible and effective pain management.

WHO: Rep Mike Rogers (R. Mich.), sponsor of HR 1863 the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003 and House co-sponsors

Richard Payne, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,
President, American Pain Society,

Mark Hahn, DO, University of North Texas,
Past President, American Academy of Pain Medicine

Joel Saper, MD, Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute
President, American Headache Society

American Pain Foundation represented by Mary Vargas, attorney and chronic pain patient

WHAT: News Conference
First showing of American Pain Society public service TV ad

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 24, 10:00 am

WHERE: National Press Club, Washington, DC

WHY: Rep Rogers and leaders of the nation's most prominent pain organizations will brief the media on the pain crisis in America and relate how HR 1863 will help pain patients, care providers and researchers. They will present startling data about untreated and undertreated pain and the personal, social and economic toll it is taking.

Also, the American Pain Society's public service TV ad will be shown for the first time.

All speakers will be available for interviews after the event, and media kit and beta copies of the PSA will be distributed.



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