Arthritis Advocates Urge Congressional Action Against Nation's Number One Cause of Disability; Testify before Congress 6/8/2004
From: Lynne Unglo of the Arthritis Foundation, 404-965-7661 or lunglo@arthritis.org; Web: http://www.arthritis.org WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Recognizing the need to respond to a growing public health threat, the U.S. Senate summoned leading arthritis experts to a hearing on the nation's number one cause of disability -- the first federal legislative response to arthritis in nearly 30 years. Representatives from the Arthritis Foundation, leading public health and clinical care groups, researchers and people with arthritis will today urge Congress to support the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act of 2004. The legislation comes at a critical time, with the staggering prevalence of arthritis continuing to rise due to the aging baby boomer population. Besides causing inordinate human pain and suffering, the disease exacts a hefty financial toll at an annual cost of more than $86 billion to the U.S. economy. "In addition to the 70 million adults with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms, 300,000 children are facing the serious challenges of arthritis," said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Our government must increase the investment in juvenile arthritis research and provide greater attention to the needs of children with arthritis. Many children across this country still do not have access to specialty care to effectively diagnose and treat the disease." Among the witnesses testifying is 19-year-old KaLea Kunkel, who suffers from scleroderma, a life-threatening autoimmune disease that fossilizes the body by scarring internal organs and causing chronic skin, joint, lung and gastrointestinal problems. "I would not be alive today without the medical attention of a pediatric rheumatologist and early and aggressive treatment," said Kunkel. "This legislation provides hope to me and the thousands of other kids living with arthritis." The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, introduced by Senators Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), expands the federal government's efforts to prevent, treat and find a cure for arthritis. The legislation focuses on three primary areas: -- Investing in a nationwide public health initiative designed to reduce the pain and disability of arthritis through early diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease. -- Ensuring the 300,000 children with arthritis in the U.S. have access to care by addressing the nationwide shortage of pediatric rheumatologists (many states do not have a single pediatric rheumatologist to provide care to children in need). -- Improving coordination among federal agencies and the public with regard to the federal investment in arthritis research and public health activities through the formation of an Arthritis Interagency Coordinating Committee. "Arthritis has become a national epidemic and it is time for the federal government to fight back," said Sen. Kit Bond (R- Mo.), chairman of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions' Aging Subcommittee. "This legislation will provide the investment needed to find new ways to beat this painful disease. The more we learn about how to treat and prevent this disease the more hope we can offer to the millions of children and adults living with arthritis." The hearing will take place before the Health Education Labor and Pensions' Aging Subcommittee today at 10 a.m. in the Dirksen building, Room 430. Witness testimonies will be posted at http://www.arthritis.org following the hearing. --- The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation's number one cause of disability. For free arthritis information, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 800-283-7800 or on the Web at: http://www.arthritis.org. |