Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness 
Tue, February 17, 2009
St. Jude Medical Welcomes Introduction of Legislation to Help People Suffering From Pain
ST. PAUL, Minn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) welcomes the introduction of the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009, H.R. 756. Intended to raise awareness about the growing issue of pain, this legislation is focused on improving access to patient care in the United States.
Led by U.S. House of Representatives members Lois Capps (D-CA) and Mike Rogers (R-MI), this legislation would help to improve outreach, provider education and training, research and awareness of acute and chronic pain. It would specifically address the complex problem of pain by:
- Creating an Institute of Medicine Conference on Pain Care
- Forming a Pain Consortium at the National Institutes of Health
- Providing pain care education and training for health care professionals
- Initiating a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign
"We are proud to support this important legislation," said Chris Chavez, president of the St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division. "St. Jude Medical is dedicated to supporting programs and policies that raise awareness of the growing problem of chronic pain and improve access to care from highly skilled pain management specialists."
Pain is a significant public health problem in the United States. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 76.2 million Americans have suffered from pain that lasts longer than 24 hours. The annual cost of chronic pain in the United States, including healthcare expenses, lost income, and lost productivity, is estimated to be $100 billion.
H.R. 756 is a reintroduction of H.R. 2994, which passed the House of Representatives in 2008. The Senate was unable to act upon the bill due to the short amount of time left in the session, requiring this resubmission. Supporters of the National Pain Care Act of 2009 hope that it will clear both the House and Senate during the 111th Congressional session and be signed into law.
For more information on the National Pain Care Policy Act or to support this legislation, visit the American Pain Foundation (APF) at [ www.painfoundation.org ]. St. Jude Medical supports educational outreach efforts through such organizations as the APF, National Pain Foundation ([ www.nationalpainfoundation.org ]), American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians ([ www.asipp.org ]), the Neuromodulation Therapy Access Coalition ([ www.neuromodulationaccess.org ]), and others.
St. Jude Medical is a market leader that develops, manufactures and markets implantable neuromodulation products with the goal of improving the quality of life for millions of people who suffer from disabling chronic pain and nervous system disorders. More than 45,000 patients in 35 countries have been implanted with St. Jude Medical neurostimulation systems. Patients can obtain more information about neurostimulation pain therapies at [ www.PowerOverYourPain.com ].
About St. Jude Medical
St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., St. Jude Medical employs approximately 14,000 people worldwide and has five major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, cardiology and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit [ www.sjm.com ].
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2008. The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.