In late September, 80 rheumatologists, rheumatology professionals and patients living with rheumatic disease convened in Washington, D.C., for the ACR’s annual Advocates for Arthritis conference, where they marshaled in support of legislation that would reduce current barriers to care for patients.
Applications are open for this year’s Advocates for Arthritis, which brings together patients and rheumatology professionals to advocate on Capitol Hill. It will be held Sept. 26–27 in Washington, D.C.
All ACR and ARP members are invited to apply to join colleagues and patients in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19–20 for advocacy training and meetings with legislators to advocate on priority issues that affect rheumatology providers and patients.
Amid spirited discussions on drug pricing and insurance challenges, participants got hands-on experience advocating for current bills regulating prior authorization and pharmacy benefit managers.
Eric Dein, MD, shared rheumatology perspectives with five congressional offices on Sept. 28 as part of the virtual Hill Day. Read his hour-by-hour account, including staffer education, legislative requests and prior authorization woes.
Applications are now open for the ACR’s Advocacy 101 program, held in conjunction with Advocates for Arthritis. Amanda Schnell, MD, describes how ACR/ARP members can learn to be successful advocates for rheumatology.
The ACR is accepting applications for this year’s Advocates for Arthritis event, which will be held virtually on Sept. 27–28. This annual event brings together patients and rheumatology professionals to advocate for our subspecialty on Capitol Hill. Applications are also open for the Advocacy 101 program, which provides advocacy training for ACR/ARP members. Apply today…
On Sept. 15, rheumatology advocates met virtually with members of Congress to share personal accounts of how telehealth is making a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic and what will help stem a workforce shortage.
Bharat Kumar, MD, Advocacy 101 coordinator and Government Affairs Committee member, describes the virtual program designed to educate and empower rheumatology fellows in training, program directors and ARP members to advocate for issues that affect rheumatology practices and patients in advance of the Advocates for Arthritis that will take place virtually in September.
Rheumatology professional and patients visited with 117 legislators and their staffs during the 2019 Advocates for Arthritis event to champion better rheumatology patient care and access.