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WASHINGTON – June 29, 2011 – The Institute of Medicine (IOM) will release a report today detailing the status of pain care management and research in the United States. The first report of its kind, Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Treatment, and Research will help to raise awareness that untreated pain is a significant public health problem affecting millions of Americans. The report will include findings about the adequacy of pain assessment, treatment and management in the United States. The report will also identify barriers to appropriate pain care and make recommendations designed to reduce barriers to care and improve training, research, education and clinical care. “Barriers to ...

... nearly one-third of patients and survivors have experienced some insurance barrier to accessing prescription drugs necessary for their cancer care, more than half of lower-income respondents have had to act to reduce their prescription costs, and roughly one-quarter of all patients have ... coupon or assistance program (18%) or asking for a lower-cost drug to be prescribed (17%). While these methods may help reduce overall health care costs, other common methods may have serious negative impacts on patients’ health. For instance, low-income patients were more likely to delay treatment (17%), endure a side effect without treatment (17%), take an ...

Sacramento , Calif. – The California Legislature passed a bill Thursday night to ensure that more health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, cover comprehensive biomarker testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence. Senate Bill ... received strong,  bipartisan support throughout the legislative process. It now heads to the governor’s desk. “Biomarker testing can help health care providers render the right treatment at the right time and is increasingly important for cancer care and the treatment of diseases like ...

... research and eliminate funding for critical programs that would improve access to chronic disease prevention and treatment in the FY 2013 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Continued advances in early detection and treatment of cancer are completely dependent on consistent ... projected to die from cancer this year, the federal government has a critical role to play by helping patients afford the cost of medical care and promoting advances in early detection and treatment of chronic diseases like cancer. Resurrecting barriers to care by defunding grants to help set up marketplaces where people can shop and compare options for quality coverage and stripping funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund which is refocusing the nation on staying well rather than waiting to treat people until they are sick collectively undermines our ...