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The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an internationally-recognized organization of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs: chronic disease Resources RESOURCES > MIGRAINE Migraine According to the National Institute of Health's National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the pain of a migraine headache is often described as an intense pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. The International Headache Society diagnoses migraine by pain level and number of attacks, and additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. More than 10 percent of people worldwide experience migraine, and it is thee times more common in women than men. Chronic Migraine Chronic migraine is defined as a headache that occurs on 15 or more days per month for at least three months. According to the National Headache Foundation, studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of patients with chronic migraine have depression. Raising awareness of the prevalence of chronic migraine and exposing its extensive impact on productivity are critical to highlighting the need for more research in order to support the millions who suffer daily. For a patient perspective on chronic migraine please visit PFCD's YouTube channel for video testimonials from three chronic migraine sufferers: http://www.youtube.com/ThePFCD

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an internationally-recognized organization of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs: chronic disease Resources RESOURCES > HEART DISEASE Heart Disease According to a recent report commissioned by the American Heart Association, costs associated with heart disease in the U.S. will reach $818.1 billion a year by 2030. Most of these costs are associated with the treatment of high blood pressure, which the report states are predicted to increase to $389 billion by 2030. Cardiovascular disease is largely a preventable chronic disease, yet the report warns that the number of heart disease cases will grow by 10 percent over the next 20 years if nothing is done. High Blood Pressure: What You Need to Know Blood pressure is the force of our blood being pushed against the artery walls when our heart beats. However, when the heart must exert more force to pump blood through the arteries, high blood pressure, or hypertension, may occur. Left unchecked, this can lead to various health concerns, most notably heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help reduce your blood pressure to healthy levels. Read the full article here .

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an internationally-recognized organization of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs: chronic disease Resources

August 1, 2025 (Washington, D.C.)  The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s most recent efforts to impose “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) drug pricing, which poses considerable risks to patient access, particularly to people living with one or more chronic diseases. “More than one in two adults in the U.S. lives with at least one chronic condition and nearly one in three live with two or more chronic conditions. As such, chronic diseases are the primary driver of health care costs—accounting for 90 cents of every dollar we spend on health care in this country. The burden of chronic disease is clearly one of the costliest challenges we face as a nation and must be a top priority for policy reform. “With that top of mind, PFCD   strongly opposes the Administration’s latest efforts to call for MFN pricing and warns that tying U.S. drug prices to foreign price controls would limit patient access to life-saving treatments, stifle medical innovation, and disproportionately harm those with chronic conditions. “While intended to reduce drug prices, an MFN policy would import foreign price controls from countries that use discriminatory pricing measures like the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) to ration health care. These types of cost-effectiveness measures systematically devalue the lives of seniors, people with disabilities, and those with chronic diseases to deny them access to the treatment their doctors recommend. “Added concerns about how MFN policies would negatively impact people living with chronic disease include: Delays and Denials of Care: Countries the MFN policy seeks to emulate routinely ration care, leaving patients waiting years for access to innovative treatments, if they ever get access at all. Ethical Risks of Foreign Price Controls: MFN would allow foreign governments to dictate what treatments are available to American patients, undermining patient and provider choice. Provider Reimbursement Cuts: MFN’s slashing of reimbursement rates would force providers, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to reduce or eliminate participation in public health plans, further shrinking access for vulnerable populations. Stifling U.S. Medical Innovation: Pegging U.S. prices to foreign benchmarks erodes incentives to develop the next generation of cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other chronic diseases. Threats to Personalized Medicine and Equitable Care for All Who Need It: MFN prioritizes cost over care, hitting minority populations and patients with complex chronic conditions hardest by limiting treatment options. “PFCD urges policymakers to reject MFN and pursue more patient-focused solutions to address rising out-of-pocket costs, like reining in PBMs and insurers. To truly make America healthy, policymakers should seek to expand access to affordable medicines without compromising care quality, innovation, or patient choice.” ###

July 31, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) has issued the following statement in response to the Senate HELP Committee hearing, “Making Health Care Affordable: Solutions to Lower Costs and Empower Patients”: “The Senate HELP Committee did the American public a tremendous service when guiding today’s informative and eye-opening discussion. We appreciate the leadership of Chair Cassidy, Ranking Member Sanders, and all members of the Committee for addressing the pressing challenges of cost and access in our health care system. “The hearing underscored the growing burden of chronic disease and the structural barriers that make it difficult for patients to manage their health effectively. Conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and depression affect tens of millions of Americans. For many, coverage decisions, shifting formularies, and limitations on pharmacy access create delays in care, financial stress, and worsened health outcomes. “The Committee’s focus on the role of intermediaries, including pharmacy benefit managers and insurers, is especially important. The impact of opaque pricing and coverage practices reaches across every community, and the need for greater accountability is clear. “We welcome continued collaboration on policies that prioritize the needs of people living with chronic conditions. A stronger commitment to transparency, affordability, and continuity of care will help ensure that individuals can manage their health without encountering unnecessary obstacles. “We thank the Committee once again for convening this important hearing.”

There is never a wrong time to talk about mental health. For millions of Americans, the challenge exists daily, shaping how they connect and cope with their surrounding environment. Here in July, the conversation is especially timely: It is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health, like other chronic conditions, places a disproportionate burden on historically marginalized communities. Higher rates of trauma, discrimination, and chronic stress compound the prevalence and severity of mental illness. Meanwhile, systemic barriers can delay diagnosis and restrict access to care. The Make America Healthy Again Commission recently recognized mental health as essential for national health. This is an important distinction to explore. For nearly two decades, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease has observed how mental health influences outcomes across care. People managing diabetes, heart disease or asthma may struggle more to pursue or adhere to treatment when depression or anxiety is left untreated. Of course, acknowledgment is not enough. The MAHA Commission must follow up with recommendations that appropriately recognize high-risk groups. Young people at large, for example, are subject to immense pressure. School demands, social isolation, and online stress contribute to the crisis. Suicide is one of the three leading causes of death for children, adolescents and adults between ages 10 and 24. In rural areas, the situation is especially urgent. Rural residents experience higher rates of depression and rates of suicide relative to Americans in urban communities. Limited access to care further exacerbates the issue. Not only do rural areas have 20% fewer primary care providers than urban areas, but 65% of rural counties lack a single psychiatrist and 95% don’t have a pediatric psychiatrist. Telehealth could help fill the void, but one in three rural homes lacks the requisite internet connection. Risks are also high for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color. From 2007 to 2020, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 17 rose by 144%. Teens who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual are more than three times as likely to consider suicide than their heterosexual peers. These numbers reflect a system that has failed too many for too long. PFCD understands the opportunity at hand to share practical recommendations as well as the importance of getting the messaging’s language right. Some phrasing in the MAHA Report risks reinforcing outdated, harmful myths, such as that therapy “encourages rumination,” the suggestion that parents or schools are to blame, or that medication and counseling are signs of weakness rather than valid treatments. When mental illness is framed with blame or stigma, people stay quiet. Likewise, language within the MAHA Report supported the notion that depression and other mental illness is over-treated among adolescents. Research says otherwise. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, only 40.6% of U.S. adolescents with a major depressive episode received treatment — and only 44.2% who suffered a major depressive episode with severe impairment. Given the mental health crisis in youth, our greater concern is under-diagnosis and under-treatment of mental illness, particularly among underserved and marginalized communities. It can be counterproductive to broadly stigmatize treatment for children in need of behavioral and medical intervention, including access to effective medications when appropriate. Mental health should be embedded in every effort to modernize care. That means better infrastructure, expanded telehealth, more trained providers, and full parity for insurance coverage. The Commission is on the right track to recognize mental health as a chronic mental condition deserving of parity in care and coverage. PFCD stands ready to help advance the momentum. There is never a wrong time to talk about mental health. There is no better time than now to act.