Advancing Equity and Access to Care with the Association of Women in Rheumatology

Strengthening advocacy and advancing ongoing collaboration were two goals successfully met at the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR) annual conference July 24–26 in Orlando, Fla.

AWIR and ACR experts shared updates during an advocacy session at the AWIR annual conference. From left: Gwenesta B. Melton, MD, FACR; Stephanie Ott, MD, FACR; Kevin Daley; and Paige Colston.

During a joint education session, advocacy experts from the AWIR and the ACR’s Paige Colston, manager of PAC and grassroots engagement, presented on the organizations’ collaborative successes and ongoing goals. In particular, Ms. Colston talked about RheumPAC and increased awareness of the ACR’s advocacy efforts in the rheumatology community.

Joining for a Common Cause

Ms. Colston describes AWIR’s annual conference as an entry point for attendees to learn about the ACR’s work, especially those who are earlier on in their careers. She was also able to promote many of the ACR’s advocacy resources, like the weekly D.C. Office Update and payer advocacy. “Breaking through via email can be difficult, so these in-person interactions can bridge that gap,” she says.

AWIR Vice President Gwenesta B. Melton, MD, FACR, who is also Advocacy Co-chair for AWIR and chair of the ACR’s Affiliate Society Council, co-led the advocacy education session with AWIR Advocacy Co-chair Stephanie Ott, MD, FACR. Dr. Melton says the advocacy mission, goals and priorities of AWIR are all developed and executed to gain the highest quality and access of care for rheumatic patients—ideals that are shared and championed with the ACR. “Collaboration between AWIR advocacy leaders and ACR advocacy titans Paige Colston and Joseph Cantrell, JD, through our meeting and throughout the year forms an alliance that amplifies our voices locally, regionally and nationally,” she says.

Advancing Shared Missions

The AWIR leverages advocacy and legislative changes to promote equitable healthcare for patients with rheumatic disease, particularly for women. For example, the AWIR legislative priorities for 2025–2026 frame the following advocacy goals:

• Support legislation to ban accumulator adjustment programs (AAPs) to ensure copay
• assistance applies toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums;
• Oppose regulations that set upper payment limits (UPLs), which create access challenges for patients and negatively impact providers that buy-and-bill;
• Advocate for transparency in drug pricing and mandates to require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers to pass through rebates to patients and unlink compensation from the price of the drug;
• Promote fair access to treatment and care irrespective of race, gender or socioeconomic status;
• Address wage disparities affecting female healthcare providers in rheumatology;
• Advocate for federal solutions to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rheumatology;
• Support changes to improve patient access to care by ensuring fair reimbursement rates based on inflation;
• Promote policies that provide exceptions to step therapy protocols; and
• Advocate legislation that impacts continuity of care for patients. 

The AWIR’s mission aligns perfectly with the ACR’s commitment to advance the practice of rheumatology, Ms. Colton explains. Additionally, many AWIR members are also members of the ACR, underscoring the complementary roles that the two organizations play in the professional life of rheumatologists or rheumatology professionals.

The AWIR also invests in the ACR’s Advocacy Fund, which is used to support the expansion of RheumPAC’s donor base, expand participation in the ACR’s annual fly-in and more. “Overall,” Ms. Colton says, “the ACR and AWIR have a great collaborative partnership, and we look forward to continuing our work together.”

Making New Connections

Several specific ACR encounters at the AWIR meeting illustrate the importance and value of this collaboration. For one, Ms. Colton says, AWIR is a great venue to promote some lesser-known facets of ACR advocacy, such as monitoring emerging issues with private payers. “I was able to underscore the unique work of the ACR’s Insurance Subcommittee and the resources that we offer,” she says.

The ACR hosted a booth at the AWIR annual conference.

Direct connections with AWIR members were also a highlight for Ms. Colston at the meeting. One that stands out was a discussion with a fellow who is about to enter private practice in Seattle following completion of her program. She is excited to put down roots in her new place, including getting involved in advocacy both at the state and federal level. At the ACR booth, the fellow was able to sign up to receive action alerts and learn more about the ACR’s health policy priorities. “It is critical to meet advocates where they are to make integrating advocacy into their practice of medicine as easy as possible,” Ms. Colton stresses.

Time to connect with AWIR advocacy colleagues Dr. Melton and Dr. Ott was also a highlight of the meeting for Ms. Colton. “It was wonderful to provide an advocacy update alongside my advocacy colleagues, who have both volunteered their time with ACR committees,” she says, describing the joint education session as a great opportunity to demonstrate the work of the ACR’s advocacy team in action. Dr. Melton echoes this sentiment from the AWIR.

Looking Toward New Advocacy Goals

Through ongoing collaborative efforts being forged by the AWIR and the ACR, the next goals are to advance rheumatology training, care and legislation by enhancing rheumatology voices in every state and the nation.

One way Dr. Melton is help making this happen in the short term is by leading visits to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in tandem with the ACR. Combined efforts help amplify shared priorities to lawmakers.

Another way AWIR members and the organization are advancing shared advocacy goals is through investing in RheumPAC, Dr. Melton adds. “RheumPAC is the only rheumatology-dedicated political action committee that champions our shared goals to stand together for excellence in rheumatic care for everyone.”

Learn more about AWIR Advocacy,  ACR advocacy and RheumPAC.

Carina Stanton is a freelance science journalist based in Denver.