A New Bill Wants The CDC To Finally Map What We Dont Know About Chronic Pain
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is advancing new legislation aimed at improving care and research for millions of Americans living with chronic pain.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican, joined Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, to introduce the Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act, which seeks to strengthen federal research efforts and improve how clinicians diagnose and treat chronic pain.
The legislation directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify gaps in existing chronic pain research, with a focus on expanding non-opioid treatment options. It also calls for improved data collection and coordination with patient advocacy groups, clinicians and researchers to better align national research efforts.
In addition, the bill would establish a centralized Chronic Pain Information Hub designed to gather and summarize research findings, making them more accessible to clinicians and scientists. Lawmakers say the goal is to help translate research into more effective, real-world treatments for patients.
“Living with chronic pain shouldn’t mean living without hope,” Cramer said. “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.”
Kaine said the legislation is intended to address the widespread impact of chronic pain and provide researchers with better tools.
“Over 60 million Americans live with debilitating and often life-altering chronic pain conditions,” Kaine said. “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.”
According to the CDC, more than one in five U.S. adults experienced chronic pain in 2021. Research from the National Institutes of Health has found that inconsistent data and a lack of standardized measures have slowed progress in developing new diagnostic tools and treatments.
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