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

Legislation & Advocacy

Rheumatology Professionals and Patient Advocates Take Their Stories to Capitol Hill

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The ACR’s annual Advocates for Arthritis conference, September 19–20, brought more than 120 rheumatologists, rheumatology health professionals, and patient advocates to our nation’s capital. Attendees, representing 37 states, met with more than 175 congressional offices, sharing their stories of access to care, treatment, and the importance of research.

Learn How the ACR is Advancing Rheumatology on Capitol Hill

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While you are at the 2011 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting learning about the latest advancements in rheumatologic care, stop by the Advocacy kiosk at the ACR Resource Center to discuss the latest developments in health policy. Currently, medicine is on the verge of great change with Congress discussing everything from physician payment reform to cuts to biomedical research and medical liability reform. The ACR advocates on behalf of the rheumatology profession and our patients and is actively pursuing the following issues:

I Will Be the Squeaky Wheel

David Borenstein, MD  |  

Being the voice of rheumatology is critical to improving care for our patients

ACR Talks to Congress about Physician Payment Reform

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This year, key congressional committees that oversee healthcare have held hearings on the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and are discussing various payment reform options. The ACR has submitted testimony to the key committees encouraging Congress to:

Speak Up This Summer

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Congress continues to make health policy decisions that directly affect you and your patients. It is critical that rheumatology professionals speak up about patient access to quality care, physician payment reform, research funding, and the multitude of concerns you and your colleagues face every day. Congress is on summer recess August 8–September 5, so now is the perfect time to reach out to your legislators and educate them on issues affecting the rheumatology community.

To Fix Health Policy, You (Yes, You) Have to Get Involved

Jeffrey Lawson, MD  |  

I can’t tell you how many times I have conversed with a colleague about the state of health policy and heard, “It’s broken.” I invariably have to ask, “What have you done to fix it?” Often times I get a blank stare or an excuse about how Congress doesn’t listen.