To: U.S. Senators and Representatives 

Introduction

We, the undersigned, urgently call on Congress to prioritize and pass the Relief of Chronic Pain Act (S. 3064) without delay.

America is in crisis. More than 60 million people – your neighbors, your family members, your friends – live every single day in the grip of chronic pain that lasts longer than three months, stemming from such conditions as diabetic peripheral nerve pain, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. This isn't just discomfort; it's a relentless thief that steals mobility, sleep, work, joy, and hope. Chronic pain is directly linked to devastating conditions like depression, Alzheimer's and related dementias, substance use disorders, and a tragically elevated risk of suicide. Families are torn apart, lives are shattered, and the human cost is unimaginable.

The Economic Toll is Staggering

Nearly $500 billion in direct healthcare costs every year, plus lost productivity that drags down our entire economy. Yet, for far too long, patients have been abandoned. In the past 15 years, meaningful new drug approvals for chronic pain have been almost nonexistent; sparse at best, and often limited to acute pain only. Compare that to over 100 novel cancer therapies approved in the same period. This isn't a coincidence; it's a failure of priorities, driven by unique technical and economic barriers that have stifled innovation in chronic pain treatments.

Breaking the Cycle

Today, doctors are forced to rely on off-label options or – far too often – prescribe opioids. While opioids can be appropriate for some under strict supervision, they are frequently ineffective for true chronic pain, lead to more doctor visits, wasted medications, addiction, and skyrocketing system costs. We cannot keep trapping people in this cycle of dependency and despair.

Enough is enough. Patients deserve a real path forward: safer, more effective, longer-lasting non-opioid therapies that reduce suffering, restore function, and rebuild quality of life. But innovation won't happen without a strong market – and patients won't benefit without reliable, affordable access to these new treatments.

The Relief of Chronic Pain Act is the breakthrough we need. This bipartisan legislation would:

• Waive deductibles for qualifying non-opioid chronic pain management drugs under Medicare Part D
• Place these drugs in the lowest cost-sharing tier to make them truly affordable
• Prohibit harmful practices like “fail first” (also known as step therapy) and prior authorization that delay or deny access

Allow Innovation to Deliver Solutions

Innovation means creating incentives needed for companies to invest in R&D again. By removing these financial and bureaucratic barriers, the bill would empower patients to choose safer alternatives, encourage pharmaceutical investment in desperately needed innovations, and finally give millions the relief they've been denied for far too long.

This is not optional – it's a moral imperative. No one should have to choose between crippling pain and the risks of opioids. No family should watch a loved one suffer because affordable, effective options are locked behind red tape. Congress has the power to act – and the time is now.

We urge every Member of Congress to cosponsor, support, and pass the Relief of Chronic Pain Act immediately. Stand with the 60 million Americans in chronic pain. Stand with innovation. Stand with life-changing relief.

Sign this petition today and tell your Senators and Representatives: Act now – before another day of unnecessary suffering passes.

Sign the petition and share it widely – every signature brings us closer to real relief for millions.

Thank you for your Support!

Lynn R. Webster, MD

Pain and addiction medicine specialist and Senior Fellow, Center for U.S. Policy.