RheumPAC turned six this year and has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception. We raised more than $100,000 in 2011 and have a goal of $125,000 in 2012. Although our subspecialist colleagues in gastroenterology, cardiology, and oncology have been participating in the political process much longer than rheumatology, we are making great progress. Just as their political action committees have increased recognition of the importance of specialty care for GI issues, heart disease, and cancer, RheumPAC is doing the same for rheumatology and arthritis and rheumatic diseases. RheumPAC is not about ideology or personal philosophy, blue or red, liberal or conservative—it’s about rheumatology and how we can positively impact health policy to improve conditions for our profession and our patients.
I know many of you are thinking, “That’s great, Jim, but I don’t get involved in politics.” But you should remember that by choosing the medical profession, you are placing yourself in the middle of the political realm. Particularly in this current environment, there are few, if any, professions more affected by policy than medicine. Whether you are in academics, private practice, research, or pediatrics, the way you treat your patients, practice medicine, receive grants for your research, and are paid for your services is directly affected by policies enacted by Congress.
Just like the ups and downs of any sports season, this year’s congressional session has had its fair share of highs and lows. Rheumatologists secured the introduction of legislation that limits excessive cost-sharing for specialty drugs, saw the passage of IPAB repeal and medical liability reform by the House of Representatives, and watched the progress of bicameral legislation that will help identify drug shortages and mitigate their impacts. But, we’ve also been hit with the Sustainable Growth Rate can being kicked down the road yet again, the fall of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry reimbursements, and research grants not expanding.
It is up to each one of us to make the effort to pick up the phone, send an e-mail, attend a meeting or town hall, participate in RheumPAC, or come to Washington, D.C. … The time for sitting on the sidelines is over.
Securing a Bright Future
While many of our advocacy efforts focus on improving the current policy climate for medicine, we must also concentrate on securing a bright future for the next generation of rheumatologists. Protecting graduate medical education funding and expanding and supporting adult and pediatric fellowship programs must continue to be priorities for the ACR. As division chief at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, I see the importance of teaching our fellows in training that advocacy is a part of being a rheumatologist and essential to the continuation of our subspecialty.
