Cynthia Toussaint

A guest editorial by Cynthia Toussaint. "If the Affordable Care Act survives the impending legal challenges and is fully implemented, it will eliminate a major barrier to health care by increasing access to care for millions of Americans suffering with chronic pain."

The author recounts how her struggles as a patient being treated for a chronic painful condition, and learning that thousands of other women have had similar experiences, opened her eyes to the effects of gender-based disparities in pain treatment and led her to take a lead role in advocating for change.