Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) have introduced the Headache Education, Access, Diagnosis, and Care Health Equity (HEADACHE) Act. This bipartisan legislation would establish the first federal initiative focused on addressing headache and migraine disorders.
According to supporters of the bill, more than 40 million Americans live with migraine and other headache disorders. These conditions are described as a leading cause of disability worldwide and are noted as the top cause of disability for U.S. women under 50. The economic impact is estimated at $78 billion annually in the United States. Advocates say that chronic conditions such as cluster headache, new daily persistent headache, and post-traumatic headache are often debilitating and stigmatized but receive limited attention in federal research funding and public health priorities.
The HEADACHE Act aims to coordinate federal efforts, expand research initiatives, improve access to care, and address systemic inequities related to these disorders.
“Headache and migraine disorders affect tens of millions of Americans but are still treated as invisible illnesses in our public health system,” said 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.”
“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 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.”
The legislation has received support from several medical organizations and patient advocacy groups including the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, American Academy of Neurology, American Migraine Foundation, National Headache Foundation, Clusterbusters, Chronic Migraine Awareness, US Pain Foundation among others.
Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy stated: “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.”
Brian Fitzpatrick has represented Pennsylvania’s 1st district in Congress since 2017 after succeeding Mike Fitzpatrick. He was born in Philadelphia in 1973 and resides in Levittown. Fitzpatrick holds degrees from La Salle University (BS) and Pennsylvania State University (JD).
