South Iowa News

U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) have introduced the bipartisan Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act. The bill aims to support clinicians and scientists in their research on chronic pain conditions that affect millions of Americans.

Rep. Nunn emphasized the need for new treatment options and relief for those suffering from chronic pain, stating, "Too many Iowans are living with pain that prevents them from completing everyday tasks."

According to statistics, approximately 20 percent of adults live with chronic pain, and 7.4 percent of them have pain that significantly impacts their ability to live and work. This prevalence increases with age, highlighting the growing concern as the American population ages.

Rep. Caraveo, a doctor herself, expressed her firsthand experience with the limited information and data available for research on chronic pain. She said, "Millions of Americans struggle with chronic pain, jeopardizing their ability to live a healthy and active life."

The legislation aims to address the current lack of centralized chronic pain information and the focus on opioid use in publicly available materials provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's existing pain data sources and ongoing projects could be more transparently disseminated to pain scientists and clinicians, driving further research into better ways to treat chronic pain.

Cindy Steinberg, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the U.S. Pain Foundation, commended the introduction of the Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act. She highlighted the need for comprehensive data to better understand chronic pain and improve care and patient outcomes.

The Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act directs the CDC to utilize available research data to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain. It also aims to identify gaps in the research data and develop standard definitions for population research on chronic pain. Additionally, the bill calls for the creation of a centralized Chronic Pain Information Hub to aggregate available data and maintain a summary of ongoing and planned research. The CDC will also develop recommendations for clinicians and scientists.

The bipartisan nature of this bill is evident as it was introduced in the Senate by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

With the introduction of the Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act, there is hope for improved research and understanding of chronic pain. This legislation seeks to provide clinicians and scientists with the necessary tools and information to develop new treatment options and ultimately alleviate the burden of chronic pain for millions of Americans.