Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives passed legislation last night to alleviate the health and economic cost of arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the United States. The bipartisan Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act (H.R. 1210), authored by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), bolsters federal juvenile arthritis research and provides federal support for initiatives to educate the public and health professionals about controlling and preventing arthritis.

“The number of adults suffering from arthritis in our country is more than the entire population of California and Massachusetts combined. More children are afflicted with the disease than suffer from juvenile diabetes. Each year the economic cost of the disease totals more than a percentage point of our national GDP,” Rep. Eshoo said. “But despite the high personal and financial cost, there is no cure and many of those suffering are not receiving the care or the basic information they need to manage the disease.”

According to the latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control, the total cost of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions is over $128 billion per year. 46.3 million Americans live with the disease, including more than 300,000 children. While early intervention and treatment is critical for children with arthritis and related diseases, many states lack sufficient specialists to treat them. Eight states are without even one pediatric rheumatologist and five states have only one.

“This bill will provide states and non-profits the resources they need to tackle this debilitating disorder,” Rep. Eshoo said. “It invests in the critical needs of children and adults suffering from arthritis, and in research that will alleviate the costs to future generations of Americans who are diagnosed. I’m proud the House has passed it and I’ll continue to fight for this legislation until it’s signed into law.”

The Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act enhances the National Arthritis Action Plan by supporting federal, state, and private arthritis research, prevention, and management efforts. It also focuses attention on juvenile arthritis research by creating planning grants for innovative research and career development grants to encourage more health professionals to enter the field of pediatric rheumatology.

There are 180 bipartisan cosponsors of the legislation, including 49 Republicans. The bill has also received the support of the Arthritis Foundation, the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Rheumatology.

“The staggering social and economic impact of arthritis on American society is unacceptable,” said Dr. John Klippel, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “We commend Rep. Eshoo for her leadership and dedication in fighting for legislation that invests in critical research and prevention for better treatments and a cure.”

H.R. 1210 passed the House by unanimous consent.

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