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Grassroots
How You Can Help
The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 46 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.
Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act
(S. 626 / H.R. 1210)
- 46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
- Arthritis costs our country $128 billion annually; $81 billion in direct medical costs.
- 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.
- By the year 2030, 67 million Americans or 25% of the adult population will have arthritis.
- Americans with rheumatoid arthritis die 5 to 10 years earlier than persons without arthritis.
- 50% of Americans with rheumatoid arthritis are forced to stop working within 10 years of diagnosis.
These are just a few of the facts about arthritis, a chronic, painful, and disabling disease. To help address this ever-growing problem, the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act proposes to strengthen arthritis public health initiatives, which would ensure that more people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability. While there are several new medicines available to treat the symptoms of arthritis, there is no cure. The legislation proposes to ensure that limited federal funding for arthritis research is used in the most strategic manner possible through the formation of a federal interagency coordinating committee. Finally, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are critical 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 remedy to help address this shortage as well as a prevalence study of arthritis in children and a patient registry.
2009 Advocacy Summit
Advocates from across the country came together on Capitol Hill, March 2-4, 2009. Together they visited 80 Senators and 150 U.S. Representatives to let them know more needs to be done for people and children with arthritis--more research and prevention funding and better access to pediatric rheumatologists. The Advocates' time was well spent. There are now 129 cosponsors of the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act (H.R. 1210). The Arthritis Foundation honored Representative, Anna Eshoo (California, 14th district) with the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Leadership Award and recognized the Arthritis Ambassadors.
2008 Advocacy Summit
Make your voice heard on Capitol Hill
The annual Advocacy and kids' Summit brings together advocates, young and old, from across the country to meet with their Members of Congress. This year's summit will take place February 25-27, 2008. The 2008 Massachusetts Ambassador will be selected soon.
Ambassadors
An Arthritis Ambassador:
Represents his/her Congressional district as a special envoy of the Arthritis Foundation
- Educates community leaders and elected officials about the impact of arthritis
- Participate in awareness-raising events and opportunities
What is expected of an Arthritis Ambassador:
Arthritis Ambassadors are volunteer advocates who commit at least two hours each month to building stron relationships with their Members of Congress to promote the Foundation's advocacy initiatives.
- Ambassadors receive exclusive monthly briefings on key policy issues affecting adults and children with arthritis. Armed with this information, Ambassadors are assigned an advocacy task each month
Make your voice heard today!
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
