Support Health Insurance Fibromyalgia Coverage
- da: American Pain Foundation
- destinatario: State Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General, Secretary of Health & other key decision-makers
Fibromyalgia is one of the most common, chronic widespread pain conditions in the United States. It affects an estimated 6 million people, 2-5 percent of the U.S. adult population. Women are approximately nine times more likely to develop Fibromyalgia than men and symptoms typically appear between the ages of 20-55. In an effort to ensure and protect patient access to approved medical treatments, the American Medical Association (AMA) is developing a Health Insurer Code of Conduct that develops clear and concise principles to address medical care policies, payment issues and monitor compliance of health care insurers.
The American Pain Foundation (APF) stands behind the AMA in support of a Health Insurer Code of Conduct. Often times, pain patients, particularly those who suffer from chronic widespread pain conditions like Fibromyalgia are the most affected by restrictive practices of the managed care industry that undermine the integrity of doctor-patient relationships.
The following petition is designed to harness the collective support of the Fibromyalgia community, including patients, providers, family members and friends, to help patients receive access to all treatments for this painful condition, including FDA-approved Fibromyalgia medications.
Please join with APF in sending an important message to key state government decision makers. Help Fibromyalgia patients receive comprehensive insurance coverage. Your state health care insurers need to improve access and affordability for all Fibromyalgia treatment options. Saving the health of Fibromyalgia patients living with pain is not something that we need to do, it is something that we MUST do.
Petition to Support Comprehensive Coverage for Fibromyalgia Patients
We the undersigned Fibromyalgia patients, health care providers and advocates, support the use of and equal access to all Fibromyalgia treatments. We advocate for affordable, comprehensive insurance coverage for patients suffering unjustly from chronic pain conditions. We urge state officials to re-evaluate restrictive policies currently implemented by health care insurers. We strongly believe that any arduous restrictions on the appropriate treatment of Fibromyalgia do nothing more than hurt patients, prolong healing and further erode the physician/patient relationship.
We also urge leaders to encourage the following.
- Access for appropriate treatments that include:
o All FDA-approved Fibromyalgia medications
o All complementary and alternative medicines, such as acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic services
o Evidence-based recommendations - Remove barriers to Fibromyalgia treatment, including:
o Unnecessary step therapy protocols
o Forced off-label prescribing for providers by health insurance companies
o Tiered co-pays for medications
An estimated 6 million Americans suffer from chronic pain as a result of their Fibromyalgia diagnosis. This disease disproportionately affects the female population. An estimated 80-90 percent of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women.
The Cost of Fibromyalgia
Chronic widespread pain from Fibromyalgia often results in poor quality of life and poses a financial burden on patients, often causing an inability to work and earn income. Healthcare costs range from $12-$14 billion per year and account for a loss of 1-2 percent of overall U.S. productivity.
Promoting the health of Fibromyalgia patients living with pain is not something that we need to do, it is something that we MUST do.
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