Workforce Issues
To aid those who have a focus on training the next generation of rheumatologists and expanding the rheumatology pipeline, the ACR continues its advocacy to expand the rheumatology workforce.
At the federal level, we are working for expanded loan repayment opportunities—particularly for pediatric rheumatology—increased Graduate Medical Education funding, a permanent repeal of the cap on Medicare funding for training slots and support for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking to join the U.S. medical workforce.
At the state level, we are encouraging states to include rheumatology professionals in loan repayment programs, talent retention programs and other workforce initiatives. Just this year, we saw the progress of a loan repayment program for cognitive specialists in Washington state and reintroduction of a similar loan repayment program in Georgia.
Educators and fellows in training can join the ACR’s work to expand training slots, add incentives for rheumatology providers serving in underserved areas, and fund new loan repayment or forgiveness programs for pediatric and adult rheumatologists.
Research Funding
As always, the ACR is committed to supporting those members who seek to find the causes and cures for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. We are continuing to advocate for increased targeted research funding for the conditions we treat.
We are working with partner groups, such as the Arthritis Foundation, to add arthritis to the diseases specified to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and pushing for increased targeted funding through the CDC.
We are working with Dr. Lindsey Criswell, a rheumatologist and the new director of NIAMS, to increase the impact of NIH funding in rheumatology. You can join us in this advocacy to advance the research enterprise and bring more available funding for rheumatology research.
In May, leaders of the ACR and ARP, including many committee members, joined together in productive virtual meetings with their representatives in Congress to urge action to address step therapy protocols and improve pediatric rheumatology access.
The general ACR/ARP membership—and your patients—can apply to represent the rheumatology community in our September Advocates for Arthritis Capitol Hill fly-in event, which will also take place virtually, via phone and video conferences.
The Advocates for Arthritis application period for ACR/ARP members and patients opens in July. You can sign up to receive the latest updates and to be notified when the application period opens at www.rheumatology.org/Advocacy/Advocates-
for-Arthritis.
In Sum
ACR and ARP members are unified in our mission to expand patient access and improve our patients’ lives. We are asking you to join the advocacy work to make this possible. Develop the mindset of educating policy makers about rheumatology and your patients’ needs. No one knows more about our field or the needs of our patients than rheumatologists and rheumatology team members, so we are uniquely qualified to educate policy makers about these needs. We have a duty to advocate and educate. See the box below for a few things you can do to stand with your colleagues as a unified voice for better patient access.
We should all be proud of the strides we have made for the rheumatology community through our advocacy together. Our thanks go to all ACR/ARP members who are working to improve patients’ lives every day, including in their advocacy for their patients. Let us each make a personal commitment to be more involved, especially in these consequential times, and to get our colleagues more involved on behalf of all our patients.
