Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced the Headache Education, Access, Diagnosis, and Care Health Equity (HEADACHE) Act, bipartisan legislation that will establish for the first time a coordinated federal initiative to address headache disorders.

“Headache disorders are among the most common and debilitating health conditions people face, yet they’ve been overlooked for far too long in our nation’s public health priorities,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The HEADACHE Act will finally change that by launching a coordinated federal initiative to improve research, expand access to care, and tackle the inequities that prevent millions of Americans from getting the treatment they need.”

“Headache and migraine disorders affect tens of millions of Americans but are still treated as invisible illnesses in our public health system,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to give a voice to communities whose conditions are overlooked or misunderstood. The HEADACHE Act creates the first federal initiative for headache disorders—driving research, expanding access, and dismantling inequities so patients finally receive the priority and care they deserve.”

More than 40 million Americans are living with migraine and headache disorders, which are the leading cause of disability in the world and for women under 50 years old in the United States. Cluster headache, new daily persistent headache, post-traumatic headache, and other migraine disorders are disabling, stigmatized, and routinely overlooked in public health priorities and research funding.

The HEADACHE Act is the first standalone federal legislation seeking to address the epidemic of migraine and headache disorders. The bipartisan effort will expand research, improve access to care, and address systemic inequities affecting people living with headache disorders.

The legislation is supported by the Alliance of for Headache Disorders Advocacy, American Academy of Neurology, Alliance for Patient Access, American Migraine Foundation, American Headache Society, Coalition of Headache and Migraine Patients, Clusterbusters, Facial Pain Association, National Headache Foundation, Headache Cooperative of the Pacific, Headache Cooperative of the Northeast, Miles for Migraine, Southern Headache Society, Chronic Migraine Awareness, Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, and US Pain Foundation.

“Thank you to Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for leading this important bipartisan effort. Migraine and headache disorders are nonpartisan chronic health conditions that cost the U.S. economy 78 billion dollars each year and are among the most disabling conditions families face. By coordinating federal efforts and aligning resources with the true disease burden, this legislation will improve efficiency and expand access in healthcare deserts. It prioritizes research to speed accurate, lower cost diagnosis and advance new treatment options, helping to reduce disability so Americans living with these conditions can live their lives to their maximum potential,” said Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy.

A copy of the legislation introduced today can be accessed HERE.

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