Kansas Chapter
Grassroots
Watch for information on how you can become involved with public policy and advocacy issues including Medicare reform, the high cost of prescription drugs and diversity and youth issues.
The Facts
46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and 23 million have possible chronic joint symptoms.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.Americans with rheumatoid arthritis die 5 to 10 years earlier than persons without arthritis.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. Americans with rheumatoid arthritis face a significantly increased rate of cardiovascular disease.
How You Can Help
The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 43 million Americans 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 our Advocacy Section 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
