© Michael John Coleman 1991
As Passed, the National Defense Authorization Act Includes Rep. Loebsack’s Military Pain Care Act
Washington, DC, May 22--Updated May 27, 2008-- While MAGNUM has been working hard on the members of the United States Congress and two Administrations to recognize Migraine as the serious neurological disease it is, and recently to have the National Institutes of Health (NIH) fairly fund moderate research, which would ease a great deal of suffering in the country.
These efforts readers by now know are called "Headache On the Hill" (HOH) and the success of this past fall is only the beginning of a very positive health-care initiative. MAGNUM along with the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) used a similar tactic to get Congress to (In our case) provide by supporting increased NIH funding of Migraine disease & headache disorder research in the FY09 appropriations bill. MAGNUM was seeking support for appending the (above) report language to the appropriations bill, while we are still advancing that agenda we are happy to report that the American Pain Foundation was successfully working with with Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) to include language from Congressman's Military Pain Care Act, H.R. 5465.
MigraineBlog & MAGNUM want to thank both the Congressman & the American Pain Foundation because we know first hand just how hard it is, even when players agree, to advance such a positive military pain care act. We know many on both of your organization staffs worked long hard hours above and beyond to make this happen, and millions of U.S. servicemen and women will be grateful.
We want to highlight the welcomed and successfully efforts of our friends in Baltimore, Maryland at the American Pain Foundation in advancing significant changes to improve pain care for those serving our nation as part of the The National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 5658.
According to the American Pain Foundation Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) voted in support of a comprehensive plan to protect our troops in harm’s way, restore military readiness and provide servicemen and women with a much-needed pay raise. The National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 5658, also included language from Congressman Loebsack’s Military Pain Care Act, H.R. 5465. These provisions will ensure all service members access to proper pain care management by requiring the Department of Defense to implement a well-defined and comprehensive pain management program for all active service members in the military health system.
“The safety, health, and wellbeing of every man and women serving in our nation’s military has been a top priority of mine since I began my service in Congress,” said Congressman Loebsack. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee to craft legislation that will ensure our troops get better health care, better pay, better protections, and the benefits they have earned.”
MAGNUM called Congressman Dave Loebsack's office to thank him for his efforts for the pain patients in the military. MAGNUM is contacted by thousands of servicepersons with pain concerns, which is why we felt it was important to advise him to keep up his advocacy for those in pain. We have been working with Congress for 16 years now, and it never stops to amaze me how Congressional staff, if you have you facts in order, can be very eager to work to help others. After a enlightening conversation with the staff we heard back from the Congressman.
"I authored the Military Pain Care Act to address what I believe is a critical deficiency in the military health care system – the lack of a comprehensive pain care policy." Congressman Loebsack told MAGNUM, he continued "I am committed to seeing military pain care reforms enacted so that our servicemembers can have access to first-rate, comprehensive health care.”
Thank you Congressman Loebsack for protecting the health of each of the 1,368,226 United States service men & women not to mention the 36 million Migraineurs who will benefit from your gentle attention to their war with pain.
According to the APF pain is the most common symptom in service members returning from combat and is the leading cause of disability amongst our nation’s veterans. Today, roughly 47% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have reported pain-related problems and symptoms. Yet, the Department of Defense does not have a comprehensive, consistent, or adequate pain care program.
In response, Congressman Loebsack successfully included a critical provision in the National Defense Authorization Act during Committee mark-up that will tackle the deficiency of pain care in the military health care system. First, the Secretary of Defense will be required to develop a plan to implement a comprehensive pain care initiative that will ensure delivery and adequacy of care across programs and facilities. Second, the Secretary of Defense will be required to address the inclusion of comprehensive pain care services in TRICARE.
Our service members are our most valuable national security asset. They and their families sacrifice every day. The legislation passed provides all service members a pay raise of 3.9 percent and extends the authority for the Defense Department to offer bonuses and incentive pay. The bill goes even further to support our troops and their families by prohibiting fee increases in TRICARE and the TRICARE pharmacy program, expanding available health care services, and improving family support for military families.
As a result of our continued presence in Iraq, Army readiness has dropped to unprecedented levels, and Army National Guard units have, on average, only 63 percent of their required equipment. And many stateside units, including those in Iowa’s National Guard, are not fully equipped and would not be considered ready if called upon to respond during a domestic emergency.
This legislation helps restore our nation’s military readiness by funding the Army’s and Marine Corps’ equipment reset requirements, authorizing nearly $2 billion for unfunded readiness initiatives including addressing additional equipment shortfalls, and authorizing $800 million to provide the National Guard and Reserve critically needed equipment. Additionally, it protects our troops in harm’s way by authorizing $2.6 billion for additional Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, $947 million for additional Up-Armored Humvees, and $783 million for the continued procurement and enhancement of personal body armor.
Lastly, the National Defense Authorization Act includes contractor reforms and improves accountability, while also requiring the Iraqi government to pay more of its fair share of reconstruction costs and banning permanent bases in Iraq.
Of course let's hope if anything ends up on the chopping block while it moves through conference let's hope they keep the Congressman's brilliant provisions to ensure all service members access to proper pain care management by requiring the Department of Defense to implement a well-defined and comprehensive pain management program for all active service members in the military health system.
Let's be realistic, a state of the art hospital ah la Ramstein Air Force Base Germany in downtown Baghdad 2028 on a peacetime U.S. base saving the lives of American & Chinese wounded peacekeepers just airlifted in from Sudan as we save millions of lives, finally cleaning up that mess would not be a bad compromise. Funny, when you talk to a WW2 veteran this Memorial Day the thought of Germany, Italy, & Japan sporting some of our best foreign bases, let alone Germany & Japan among our best and strongest allies these days and they all will tell you with a smile you would have been insane!
Several people ask if the bill could get hung up in conference, let's hope it comes out the other side soon! The point of the hypothetical hospital antidote was riders to end the war can act as a poison pill, which would be heart breaking on such important Bill with so many thoughtful reforms and improvements in healthcare to protect our men & women in uniform as we see here. Having said that, if they lose the bases or keep them, the future will be bright as long as they keep Congressman Dave Loebsack's Military Pain Care Act in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act.
This legislation will next move to conference to be combined with the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act.
For more information, please visit Congressman Loebsack's website.
While brave men and women fight overseas for our freedom, we Migraineurs can fight for their freedom from Pain: It's Your Duty!
