States increasingly take the lead on issues critical to our members and the field of rheumatology, including copay accumulator bans, white bagging restrictions, prior authorization and drug pricing.
ACR Convergence 2021: Advocacy Successes & Challenges
The ACR’s advocacy efforts over the past year have helped put critical prior authorization and step therapy legislation in front of Congress. Learn more at ACR Convergence 2021.

Lively, Practical Training at Advocacy 101
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.

A Look Inside the Advocate Experience at Advocates for Arthritis
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.
Bipartisan DXA Bill Under Consideration in Congress
The Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act would set a $98 floor for Medicare reimbursement for the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone density test.
RheumPAC Donors Discuss Healthcare Legislation, Drug Pricing with Rep. Lloyd Doggett
At a virtual event with the chair of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health, RheumPAC donors were able to share concerns and recommendations about drug pricing policies and how they affect providers and patients.
What to Expect in State Legislatures in 2021
New state legislatures face many continuing issues, including budget shortfalls, vaccine distribution problems and strained healthcare infrastructure. However, opportunities exist for significant policy wins for rheumatology, particularly on the issues of step therapy reform, telemedicine and copay accumulators.

Advocating for Change: Q&A with Georgia State Rep. Kim Schofield
Rep. Kim Schofield’s path to the Georgia House of Representatives started with her lupus diagnosis 20 years ago.
Capitol Hill Rheumatology Advocacy Goes Virtual
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.
Last Call for 2019 RheumPAC Contributions
The ACR thanks all members who donated to RheumPAC this year. These contributions enable the ACR to educate key legislators and their staffs about the important issues rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals face. Every dollar raised goes directly to the re-election campaigns of legislative leaders in our field to help those who best understand our issues…