Grassroots

Support the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act of 2005

• 46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis

• 300,000 children have a form of juvenile arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma.

• 9,500 Americans died due to arthritis in 2003.

• Arthritis costs our country $86 billion annually; $51 billion in direct medical costs.

• 50% of Americans with rheumatoid arthritis are forced to stop working within 10 years of diagnosis.

These are a few of the hard facts about arthritis. Fortunately, there is increasing hope for Americans living with the daily pain and physical limitations associated with arthritis. The legislation proposes to strengthen arthritis public health initiatives, which would ensure that more people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability.

In brief, the legislation would:

• Improve coordination among federal agencies and the public with regard to the federal investment in arthritis research and public health activities.

• Accelerate research that will lead to improved treatments for juvenile arthritis.

• Invest in a nationwide public health campaign designed to reduce the pain and disability of arthritis through early diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease.

• Ensure kids with arthritis have access to specialty care by addressing the nationwide shortage of pediatric rheumatologists.

While there are new medicines to treat arthritis, recent news stories about a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with some therapies have shown that more effective and safe treatments must be found. The bill proposes to ensure that our limited federal funding for arthritis research is used in the most strategic manner possible. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are especially important for children with arthritis. Unfortunately with a severe shortage of pediatric rheumatologists, many families drive several hours to see a physician for treatment. The legislation authorizes a prevalence study of arthritis in children and helps ensure that there are more pediatric rheumatologists to treat them.

What can you do to help in the coming months?  For more information about this legislation or other policy initiatives, call the Arthritis Foundation National Office in Washington D.C.(202) 887-1700.

How You Can Help

The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 46 million Americans, including one in five Oklahomans, living with arthritis. But we need your help to get more government funding for arthritis research, to encourage early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, and to improve access to quality health care for everyone with arthritis.

Visit www.arthritis.org/advocacy/ for tools you need to become informed about the issues and to make your voice heard. You will find issue "backgrounders," Arthritis Foundation position statements, as well as links to other Web sites that may be helpful.

Become An Advocate -- Join the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Network

Arthritis Advocacy Priorities -- Read about the issues

Contact Congress -- Quickly locate your legislators and send a message