Migraine: A Problem for Employers and Managed Care Plans

Headache is probably the most common symptom in the workforce and in the general population. Among the many types of headache, the one with perhaps the greatest impact on well-being and functional capacity is migraine. It disrupts work and leisure activities and engenders significant use of healthcare resources. Migraine cannot be cured, but it can usually be managed. Managed care organizations can facilitate the treatment of migraine through disease management programs. Unfortunately, however, many migraineurs receive substandard, ineffectual, and inappropriate care - or no care at all. This article reviews the diagnosis, epidemiology, and treatment of migraine, with an emphasis on the perspectives of employers and managed care plans, with the hope of encouraging them to become more proactive in dealing with individuals with migraine.