Migraine costs Americans $1 billion a year in direct medical expenses,1 and chronic headache affects more than 3 million Americans. Despite these high numbers, migraine and headache sufferers receive little attention from the media, researchers and government.
The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) is one group that encourages governmental action to promote awareness of migraine and headache. The group first sent doctors, scientists and patient advocates to Congress in September 2007 to make the case for an increase in funds for research on the subject. The event, “Headache on the Hill,”2 has now been held annually for the past five years.
At the 2011 event, the AHDA focused on Senate bill S.597, aimed at amending the Social Security Act to include neurologists as primary care physicians (allowing neurologists to receive incentive payments for primary care services under the Medicare program). The bill was referred to the Committee of Finance.
The AHDA is circulating a petition to bring more attention to migraine and headache disorders. Specifically, the petition asks the government to hold hearings around the topic to further society’s appreciation of the toll that these disorders place on sufferers, explore how government can promote research in this area, suggest solutions and promote adequate access to health care providers who have training and experience with these conditions.
Read and sign the AHDA petition.
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