In an important step forward for the chronic pain community, the bipartisan Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act (ARCPA) was introduced into Congress on July 21.

This federal legislation, S.5041, was introduced by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Steve Daines (R-MT). It would improve and standardize data collected about chronic pain, shining a light on the burden pain creates for millions of Americans.

“For far too long, chronic pain has not been recognized or addressed in proportion to its enormous impact on individuals, families, and our nation,” said Cindy Steinberg, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the U.S. Pain Foundation. “The Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act will give us the high-quality data needed to better understand pain, enhance treatment, and ultimately improve the lives of millions of Americans living with chronic pain. We are grateful to Senator Kaine for his leadership in advancing this critical effort.”

ARCPA would:

• Improve national chronic pain data, analysis, and reporting.
• Determine the direct and indirect costs of chronic pain.
• Identify the prevalence and incidence of all known chronic pain conditions.
• Report on risk factors, comorbidities, health consequences of pain, and more.
• Create a centralized Chronic Pain Information Hub to make this information readily available to researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and people with pain.

The Impact of ARCPA

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.

But despite this enormous impact, chronic pain continues to be profoundly misunderstood and under-researched.

Researchers 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.

U.S. Pain Foundation has worked for years on the bill—which has also been supported by a number of patient advocacy organizations, medical societies, and advocates.

“ARCPA isn’t just about data,” said Nicole Hemmenway, CEO of the U.S. Pain Foundation. “It’s 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.”

Hear From the U.S. Senators Sponsoring the Bill

Tim Kaine: “Over 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’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to help provide much-needed relief to every person living with these conditions.”

Kevin Cramer: “Living with chronic pain shouldn’t 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’s working, we can help doctors provide better care and give patients more effective treatment options.”

Andy Kim: “Better 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’ve long gone without but takes concrete steps toward the relief they deserve.”

Steve Daines: “Although tens of millions of Americans live with chronic pain, it is a disease that we don’t fully understand. I’m 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.”