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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Shake-up in Washington. What’s in Store for Health Policy in the 112th?

  |  Issue: January 2011  |  

Through RheumPAC and other advocacy efforts, the ACR will continue to work with supporters of the rheumatology community and educate new members in the 112th Congress to advance the ACR’s legislative priorities. To learn more about how RheumPAC is working for you in Washington D.C., visit www.rheumatology.org/rheumpac, or e-mail [email protected].

  • Reinstate Consultation Codes: The ACR will continue to work with the American Medical Association and other specialty and state societies to reinstate consultation codes. Congress is generally unaware of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ decision to eliminate consultation codes in 2010 and the impact this is having on care coordination.
  • Permanent Fix to SGR: The ACR will continue to advocate for a permanent fix to stabilize Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) program to ensure fair physician reimbursement and patient access to quality care. In the meantime, the ACR joins 66 national physician organizations and all state medical societies in asking Congress to prevent Medicare payment cuts through at least December 2011. Congress has indicated bipartisan support for this proposal, and discussions are underway to determine funding offsets during this short-term extension.
  • Arthritis Research Funding: The ACR continually educates Congress on the importance of arthritis-related research.

Now is the perfect time for you to get involved with the ACR’s advocacy efforts. Most members of Congress are not aware that rheumatologists receive years of additional training to provide specialized care to patients with arthritis and rheumatic conditions. Reach out to your members of Congress and educate them on these issues. For questions about the ACR’s advocacy efforts, e-mail [email protected].

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