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AAPM&R is Calling for a Comprehensive National Plan to Address the Needs of Millions Suffering from Long COVID

According to two publications from the Journal of the American Medical Association, ten to thirty percent of individuals who had COVID-19 reported at least one persistent symptom up to six months after the virus left their bodies. That means 3 to 10 million Americans are experiencing symptoms of Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), which are varied and ongoing, including neurological challenges, cognitive problems such as brain fog, shortness of breath, fatigue, pain, and mobility issues.

In 2021, AAPM&R called on President Joe Biden and Congress to gear up for the next coronavirus crisis by preparing and implementing a comprehensive national plan focused on meeting the needs of millions of individuals suffering from the long-term symptoms of COVID-19, and help them regain quality of life and return to being active members of their communities. The plan must include a commitment to three major components:

  • Resources to build necessary infrastructure to meet this crisis
  • Equitable access to care for patients
  • Research to advance medical understanding of Long COVID

PM&R physicians are uniquely qualified to help guide the multidisciplinary effort needed to develop a plan for this crisis. As a specialty, physiatrists are investigators, team leaders and problem solvers. PM&R physicians see the whole patient AND the whole picture of the rehabilitation ecosystem. Physiatrists are exactly what this crisis needs. Learn more about our Multidisciplinary PASC Collaborative, launched in March 2021, which is working on quality improvement initiatives.

AAPM&R Advocacy, Healthcare Collaborations and Partnerships, and Customized Resources to Support PM&R During This Crisis

AAPM&R is working to ensure PM&R is part of the national conversation about healthcare amidst COVID-19 and advocating for the federal support, legislation, regulation relief and resources that physiatrists need now. One way we are doing this is through our partnerships and collaborations with other specialty societies. The Academy continuously works to represent PM&R through these collaborations, and it is through these partnerships that we are able to discuss and share a variety of resources with you that you critically need.

Stay Up-to-Date

Dr. Verduzco-Gutierrez: AAPM&R Members Push Long COVID Call to Action Forward

Feb 25, 2022

Last March, we officially called on President Biden and Congress to prepare and implement a comprehensive national plan focused on the needs of millions of individuals suffering from the long-term symptoms of COVID-19, also known as Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

Our efforts are focused on ensuring patients receive the care they need while also communicating the value of PM&R in rehabilitation care aligned with the Academy’s mission and vision. To that end, we have pushed several efforts forward and are working to ensure our member leaders have been consistently featured in front of key decision makers in various news outlets. Take a look at some arenas where your peers are spotlighted:

Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD, FAAPMR, professor and chair of the PM&R department at the University of Texas Health San Antonio and director of the COVID Recovery Clinic at University Health; member of AAPM&R's Multidisciplinary PASC Collaborative

  • She was interviewed for this Axios article, “Long COVID is contributing to America's labor shortage” where she discussed Long COVID symptoms and the debilitating impact it is causing on the workforce.
  • On February 3, she testified before the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee in the hearing on Bridging Health Equity Gaps for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions. Her testimony focused on the impact of Long COVID on people with disabilities and how it is creating a new population of disabilities. She talked about the devastating impact of this condition and the further damage caused by the lack of access to care, particularly multi-disciplinary rehabilitation care. She emphasized AAPM&R’s call to action and the important work our PASC Collaborative is doing.