Headache on the Hill

This week marks Headache on the Hill, an annual event where headache providers, patients, and advocates gather in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about headache disorders among policymakers. Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability, especially among women, costing the government billions of dollars annually in both healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Despite its significant impact, headache disorders remain one of the least funded medical conditions. Additionally, they continue to be highly stigmatized, often dismissed as “just a headache.”

During the event, participants will meet with members of Congress and the Senate to discuss key issues in headache medicine, including policy implementation, increased NIH funding, and expanded access to organizations like the VA. One critical legislative effort currently under consideration is the Safe Step Act, which focuses on pharmacy benefit reform. Many insurance policies require patients to fail older treatments before gaining access to newer, potentially more effective options—a process that can be burdensome, costly, and detrimental to patient health. The goal of this bill is to streamline access to better treatments and improve patient outcomes.

As part of this year’s Headache on the Hill, I will be meeting with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Pat Ryan, and Rep. Nick Langworthy to advocate for meaningful policy changes. In these uncertain times for healthcare legislation, I hope to help enact reforms that will directly improve the lives of my patients.