AAPMedicine: Healthcare Reform legislation will benefit people with chronic and acute pain

In response to the healthcare reform legislation that was signed into law this week, the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPMedicine), in a statement released today, voiced its strong support of certain components of the reform legislation that will "improve the quality of life for people who suffer with chronic and acute pain."  

The Academy is referring specifically to Section 4305 of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation, now signed into law by President Obama, which incorporates several pain initiatives that open the door for better research, education, training and clinical care.  The key components of this legislation will help raise awareness, identify barriers, establish action plans for research, education and training.  

"The portions of the Healthcare Reform legislation that deal with pain will benefit many and should be applauded on behalf of pain sufferers across the nation," Academy President Eduardo Fraifeld, MD said.  Pain physicians have long recognized the need for solid pain research and education, as indicated in a Position Paper it released in Fall 2009 that clearly documented the need for these efforts on behalf of those suffering with pain, Dr. Fraifeld explained.

The American Academy of Pain Medicine and several other key pain organizations have been working with legislators for several years now to help secure the resources necessary to help people in pain.

President-Elect Perry Fine, MD said, "This legislation provides the necessary components for physicians to help our patients who are living with compromised lifestyles because of the chronic pain they face each day."

Furthermore, the Academy played a lead role in advancing the call for better pain care as it joined with physician leaders from across the country in a closed-door National Pain Summit that took place adjacent to an AMA meeting last Fall in Houston, Texas.

"Everyone knows someone whose life has been changed in profound ways by pain that has not been effectively controlled," said Dr. Fine, who has been vigilant in bringing the disparity between patient suffering and the under-accessed pain care before Congress.  "We now have the avenue to reduce barriers to care, the research to quantify the science of pain and a means to educate and train clinicians across multiple specialties and disciplines," he added.

Excerpts from the Position Statement follow:

AAPMedicine Applauds the Inclusion of Pain Care in the New Healthcare Reform

The American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPMedicine) commends the inclusion of key components from the 2009 National Pain Care Policy Act (Section 4305) as part of the historic healthcare reform bill, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

Recognizing the diversity of opinion that exists regarding the healthcare reform legislation, the American Academy of Pain Medicine believes that certain components should be recognized and applauded by all Americans. Everyone knows someone whose life has been changed in profound ways be pain that has not been effectively controlled. This new pain care legislation addresses what the National Institutes of Health calls one of the nation's most important health problems—pain.

Assessment and Awareness

The new provision calls for the Institute of Medicine Conference on Pain Care, which includes the mandate to increase awareness of pain as a significant public health problem and identify barriers to appropriate pain care. The conference would establish an action agenda to reduce the barriers and improve research, education, training and clinical care.

Research & Collaboration

NIH funding for pain medicine research is disproportionate with the widespread incidence of chronic pain in our society. The Academy is pleased that the new legislation includes the Pain Consortium at National Institutes of Health. This provision encourages the NIH to expand an aggressive program of pain research, calling for collaboration between experts from government, professional and patient groups.

Education and Training

The final component is the Program for Education and Training in Pain Care which will authorize training grants, with an emphasis on training on comprehensive, interdisciplinary approaches to pain care, including attention to access and regulatory issues as well as clinical components.

AAPMedicine has worked for many years to advance the legislation that became the pain care provisions in this healthcare reform bill. The collaboration between the Academy's Committee for Legislative Affairs, the Pain Care Coalition (PCC), the American Pain Foundation (APF) and other organizations played an important role in this process.

The American Academy of Pain Medicine applauds the efforts to address the public health crisis of pain. It is our hope that these new provisions will lead to better pain care for the patient suffering with chronic or acute pain.

The Academy remains supportive of other efforts to insure access to affordable health care including important reform to the Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.