Ohio Rheumatologists Advocate for Step Therapy Reform & More

Legislators often are unfamiliar with rheumatic diseases and what rheumatologists do, says Dr. Ott.

“They are looking at costs of care now, but they don’t understand the costs to society if we don’t provide the treatments these patients need now. Their diseases will worsen, and they may not be able to work, or they’ll have to go on disability, or they will need joint replacement surgery, which will be a far greater cost,” she says. “There is such a huge knowledge gap, and it’s our job to educate them and the public.”

Susan Bernstein is a freelance medical journalist based in Atlanta.

Like many other state rheumatology associations, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) has recently been actively advocating for patient care at the state legislative level. The most recent example of OAR’s efforts included an Advocacy Day on May 4, when members met with state legislators to discuss topics of interest. It was the fourth such…

Professional practices, state societies and other organizations can support RheumPAC’s work with corporate funds through the RheumPAC Advocacy Fund.

In 2014, four rheumatologists formed a new organization to promote gender equity within the field. Today, the Association of Women in Rheumatology offers training and opportunities in leadership, business development, financial planning and more, as recently highlighted at its annual meeting Aug. 12–15.

The Budget Control Act of 2011 cut Medicare physician payments by 2% across the board. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law in 2020, suspended this sequester (i.e., a cut in government spending) between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed into law in December…

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