The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today released a National Pain Strategy, outlining the federal government's first coordinated plan for reducing the burden of chronic pain that affects millions of Americans. Developed by a diverse team of experts from around the nation, the National Pain Strategy is a roadmap toward achieving a system of care in which all people receive appropriate, high quality and evidence-based care for pain.

"Chronic pain is a significant public health problem, affecting millions of Americans and incurring significant economic costs to our society," said Karen B. DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., HHS acting assistant secretary for health. "This report identifies the key steps we can take to improve how we prevent, assess and treat pain in this country."

To read the press release in its entirity go to http://www.hhs.gov/ash/news/2016/20160318-national-pain-strategy-outlines-actions-for-improving-pain-care.html

to read the entire report go to http://iprcc.nih.gov/docs/HHSNational_Pain_Strategy.pdf