Pain reportedly affects 76.5 million Americans -- more than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined and is the No. 1 reason people seek medical care.
Surprisingly, many doctors are not trained in pain management and some barriers exist for those seeking treatment to pain.
One proposal – aimed at knocking down those barriers -- the amended National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 (HR 2994) has been passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It will now go to general vote by the full House of Representatives Wednesday, September 24.
Here’s a summary of what the bill is proposing:
• Increase awareness of pain as a significant public health problem;
• Evaluate the adequacy of pain assessment, treatment and management;
• Identify barriers to appropriate pain care;
• Establish an action agenda to address barriers and improve pain care research, education, training and clinical care;
• Highlight disparities in pain care specific to populations that are disproportionately under-treated for pain; and
• Report to Congress on findings and recommendations.
Obviously, there's a lot more to the issue than presented here, but if you are interested in learning more click on this link.