Elizabeth “Blair” Solow, MD, MSc, and Angus Worthing, MD, FACP, FACR, described the top political issues affecting rheumatology now and how ACR members can work toward practices and policies that help us better care for patients.
Sequestration, workforce issues and step therapy reform are just some of the areas in which the ACR’s activities, via the Government Affairs Committee and member action, have made a positive difference for rheumatology practitioners.
As a new year begins, Government Affairs Committee Chair Blair Solow, MD, takes stock of ACR advocacy wins in 2020 and issues to watch in 2021, including workforce issues, continued telemedicine access, prior authorization relief, Medicare reimbursement and drug pricing.
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—Held Nov. 5–9, the ACR’s first fully virtual annual meeting provided participants with a vast repository of new research related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To help you sort through the noise, Elizabeth (Blair) Solow, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, offered …
Attendees at the ACR Convergence session will learn about key regulatory issues affecting rheumatology and how to add their voices to strengthen the ACR’s advocacy efforts.
Although the COVID-19 outbreak has shifted the focus and approach of advocacy efforts, ACR staff and the Government Affairs Committee continue to work on behalf of rheumatology providers and patients.
ACR volunteer leaders and staff will convene more than 100 meetings via teleconference with Congressional leaders on May 22, addressing rheumatology provider solvency and patient access to care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
With multiple healthcare policy issues currently in play, Dr. Solow believes making rheumatologists’ voices heard is crucial to the specialty’s success.