Young Father from Lindenhurst Takes Healthcare Issues to Capitol Hill, Hundreds to Urge Congress for More Arthritis Support

Melville, NY—March 14, 2014—Nicholas Kreutzberg, a young father of two from Lindenhurst, will be traveling to Washington, D.C. this month to ask Congress to support people with arthritis through policies that will ensure more research, better treatments and greater access to care.  Over 50 million Americans suffer from arthritis, 300,000 of whom are children.  Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. 

Nicholas Kreutzberg, 26, has suffered with Rheumatoid Arthritis since he was 18.  He has been selected to join nearly 300 other Arthritis Foundation advocates March 24-26 on Capitol Hill for the annual Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit. 

“For much of my teenage years I experienced severe pain in my fingers, knuckles, elbows, feet and ankles.  By the time I was 18, I could no longer grasp and hold things tightly without experiencing pain or needing to let go to readjust my fingers,” said Mr. Kreutzberg.  “As a young father of two little kids, having severe arthritis has been a very tough challenge both emotionally and financially.  If I didn’t have the help of my parents, I wouldn’t be able to provide for my own family,” he added. 

Advocates will urge Congress to support legislation that will make medications more affordable for patients with arthritis; reauthorize a pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program to address the critical shortage of pediatric rheumatologists in the U.S.; and include post traumatic osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in the Department of Defense research program. 

“My kids are the center and drive of all that I do, and I try to stay as active with them as possible.  On good days we can build a snowman in the winter, or go to one of our beautiful beaches in the summer.  But on days when the pain is severe, I can’t do much of anything,” said Mr. Kreutzberg, who lives with his fiancée Hilda Santos, 4-year-old son Nicholas, and 18 month old daughter, Emma.  “Lawmakers need to understand how limiting this disease is—it limits my physical mobility, career options, financial security, and even how I spend time with my own family,” stressed Mr. Kreutzberg.

Patients now have access to the benefits of research through the discovery and development of drugs like biologics, but excessive cost-sharing makes it extremely difficult for many to afford. 

“The Arthritis Foundation is committed to educating our lawmakers on the devastating toll arthritis takes on our nation’s health and economy,” says Dr. Patience White, vice president of public policy and advocacy for the Arthritis Foundation. “The support of the U.S. Congress in improving access to care for the millions of adults and children living with arthritis is critical to alleviating the burden of arthritis in our country,” she added.

About the Advocacy Summit

Arthritis Foundation’s 16th annual Advocacy Summit will be held March 24-26 in Washington, D.C.  The summit will bring together nearly 300 key arthritis advocates from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to meet with members of Congress to educate them that more needs to be done for people with arthritis.

About the Arthritis Foundation

Striking more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of this serious and painful disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.    #  # #