Legislative Toolkit

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Legislative Toolkit aims to educate and assist legislators with extensive background materials, policy recommendations, and sample legislation. We have included our own materials as well as reports from authorities in disease prevention including the Arthritis Foundation, American College of Rheumatology, the European League Against Rheumatism, and agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Additionally, the following links will provide you with outreach materials and sample legislation.

Outreach Materials

Sample Legislation

Facts & Statistics

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with no known cause or cure.
Approximately 1.3 million Americans have RA.
Two to three times more women than men have RA.
Onset usually occurs between 20 and 60 years of age with incidence increasing with age.
Possible RA risk factors include genetics, environment (bacteria or virus), hormone levels and/or stress.
RA often begins with morning stiffness and fatigue, progressing over weeks or months to joint swelling and pain.
Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are essential to slow progression of the disease and delay loss of function.
Treatment often includes a combination of medication and possibly surgery.
Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are the most common cause of disability in the United States.

Legislative Toolkit

Facts & Statistics

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