Protecting Access To Pain Relief Coalition

PROMOTING THE COMMON GOOD AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY BY EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR AND SUPPORTING CONTINUED ACCESS TO AND CHOICE OF APPROPRIATE OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEF THROUGH EVIDENCE- BASED EDUCATION ON SAFE USE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEF OPTIONS AS A PART OF A PATIENT CONSUMERS COMPREHENSIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN DEVELOPED WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

ADVOCACY: THE PAPR COALITION WORKS WITH ITS MEMBERSHIP TO DEVELOP MATERIALS TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED RESEARCH FUNDING AND INNOVATION ON BEHALF OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND FAMILIES ABOUT NEW INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THEIR DAILY LIVES. THROUGH ITS MEMBERSHIP, THE PAPR COALITION ALSO ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC POLICY THAT WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO AND CHOICE OF SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT OPTIONS IN FRONT OF BOTH CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (CONGRESSINOALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM), THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, INCLUDING THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, AND OTHERS. SELECT ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF THROUGH COALITION MEMBER FLY-INS AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH EXECUTIVE BRANCH STAFF.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT: THE PAPR COALITION UTILIZES THE EXPERTISE OF ITS PATIENT ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC HEALTH GROUP MEMBERSHIP TO DEVELOP REGULATORY COMMENTS, EXPERT RESPONSES TO LEGISLATION AND CONGRESSIONAL STAFF INQUIRIES, AND TO PROVIDE KEY STAKEHOLDER INSIGHTS TO FEDERAL APPOINTED, CAREER AND ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAIN RESEARCH AND MAJOR GRANTS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OTHER MATERIALS TO BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS THAT SUFFER FROM CHRONIC PAIN. THESE POLICY PRODUCTS ARE DEVELOPED AND FINALIZED THROUGH A CONSENSUS PROCESS OF REVIEW WHICH ENGAGES ALL PAPR COALITION MEMBERS AND THE PAPR COALITION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. OUR EXPERT POLICY PRODUCTS UTILIZE PEER-REVIEWED AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO INFORM POLICY PRINCIPLES AND POSITIONS THE PAPR COALITION SUPPORTS AND ABOUT WHICH THE PAPR COALITION EDUCATES OTHERS. SELECT POLICY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS TO CHRONIC PAIN POLICY POSITIONS AND OTHER EFFORTS DEVELOPED BY NUMEROUS FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), AND OTHERS. THE PAPR COALITION AND ITS MEMBERS ALSO BRIEF EXPERT STAFF AT FEDERAL AGENCIES, SUPPORT AND REVIEW ACTIVITIES RELATED TO FEDERAL AGENCY INITIATIVES ON CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT AND PAIN RELIEF GENERALLY, AND DEVELOP AND EXECUTE BRIEFINGS FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH STAFF AND OUTSIDE GROUPS.

EDUCATION: PAIN IS A COMPLICATED TOPIC, AND THE PAPR COALITION EDUCATES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE PAIN RELIEF. THIS EDUCATION INVOLVES PROVIDING TOOLS TO INDIVIDUALS TO INFORM THEM OF EVIDENCE-BASED PAIN MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS EDUCATING APPOINTED AND ELECTED FEDERAL AND STATE POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE PAIN MANAGEMENT LANDSCAPE AND DESIGNING PUBLIC POLICY INTERVENTIONS THAT BENEFIT CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS. THE PAPR COALITION ALSO DEVELOPS WEBINARS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND TO ALLOW EXPERT STAKEHOLDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AS PART OF THE COALITION'S EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE PAPR COALITION ALSO POSTS EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTS SUCH AS PEER-REVIEWED PUBLIC COMMENTS ON RELEVANT POLICY ISSUES TO ITS WEBSITE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EASILY ACCESS. SELECT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STAKEHOLDER AND MEMBER RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES THROUGH MEETINGS AND INDIVIDUAL CALLS, ORGANIZING AND HOSTING WEBINARS ON DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL TOPICS, SUCH AS THE USE OF TELEHEALTH TO MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN AND THE TREATMENT OF PAIN IN PEDIATRIC POPULATIONS, AND ENGAGES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO INFORM THEIR ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGING ON ISSUES RELATED TO SAFE AND EFFECTIVE OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN MANAGEMENT.