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We are at a crucial time in history for people with pain. The very first national strategic plan to advance pain research, education and treatment—The National Pain Strategy (NPS)—has been released for public comment for a short period of time. We need your voice NOW to make sure that the NPS is changed from words on a page to a reality for the millions of Americans who urgently need improved pain care! See the press release announcing that the Interstitial Cystitis Association has been working collaboratively with 16 other organizations as part of the Consumer Pain Advocacy Task Force specifically for this purpose.

The next step in this process is to urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin the important process of designating funding for NPS and developing a federal oversight body, so that HHS can quickly begin putting the Plan into action as soon as it is finalized and released!

There’s less than a week remaining, so please take 5 minutes to help by sending a letter to HHS—we’ve done most of the work for you!

The following link contains a sample letter that you can personalize and send automatically through this online system. All you have to do is enter your contact information and click “SUBMIT.” If you choose, you can also add a sentence or two about yourself so that your letter is not the same as everyone else’s. (Alternately, you can copy/paste the letter template below into your own email and send to HHS (ASH@hhs.gov or address listed below for U.S. mail).

Please take action now to influence the National Pain Strategy. This is a big deal for people affected by pain so please let us know if you send a letter and we’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Comments on the draft National Pain Strategy must be received no later than 5 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2015.

The draft of the National Pain Strategy can be read in full here.