An Update from the RheumPAC Chair on the 117th Congress

• Growing the medical workforce by: 
  • Repealing the cap on Medicare-funded residency slots;
  • Transferring more than 30,000 Congressionally approved J1 visas to medical professionals; and
  • Deferring interest on medical student loans while in residency;
• Mitigating step therapy protocols;
• Banning copay accumulator policies;
• Expanding the use of telehealth by making many of the rules instituted during the pandemic permanent;
• Investigating pharmacy benefit manager practices to address their role in the rising cost of drugs; and
• Increasing NIH, NIAMS and CDC research funding for rheumatic diseases, as well as securing dedicated funding for arthritis through the Department of Defense.

As you can see, it has been a busy year in Congress and of advocating for policies that can positively address the issues that impact rheumatology care providers and their patients. We only expect that to heat up towards the end of the election cycle and in the “lame duck” session of Congress.

Let us work on your behalf and give us the resources to increase the ACR’s impact on decisions in Washington, D.C. Make your investment today at www.rheumpac.org.

Howard Blumstein, MD, is a rheumatologist at Rheumatology Associates of Long Island and chair of RheumPAC.