Video: Knock on Wood| Webinar: ACR/CHEST ILD Guidelines in Practice
fa-facebookfa-linkedinfa-youtube-playfa-rss

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

  • Conditions
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis
    • Gout and Crystalline Arthritis
    • Myositis
    • Osteoarthritis and Bone Disorders
    • Pain Syndromes
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Sjögren’s Disease
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
    • Systemic Sclerosis
    • Vasculitis
    • Other Rheumatic Conditions
  • FocusRheum
    • ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis
    • Gout
    • Lupus Nephritis
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Guidance
    • Clinical Criteria/Guidelines
    • Ethics
    • Legal Updates
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence
      • Other ACR meetings
      • EULAR/Other
    • Research Rheum
  • Drug Updates
    • Analgesics
    • Biologics/DMARDs
  • Practice Support
    • Billing/Coding
    • EMRs
    • Facility
    • Insurance
    • QA/QI
    • Technology
    • Workforce
  • Opinion
    • Patient Perspective
    • Profiles
    • Rheuminations
      • Video
    • Speak Out Rheum
  • Career
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Awards
    • Career Development
  • ACR
    • ACR Home
    • ACR Convergence
    • ACR Guidelines
    • Journals
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
    • From the College
    • Events/CME
    • President’s Perspective
  • Search

Expressing My Point of View Where it Matters Most—In the Halls of Congress

Herbert S. B. Baraf, MD  |  Issue: July 2012  |  July 9, 2012

Pictured right to left are Herbert S. B. Baraf, MD, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD-08), and fellow ACR advocate, Angus Worthing, MD.

I am passionate about being a rheumatologist and the opportunity I have to help my patients, but the care we provide our patients does not exist in a vacuum. That care occurs in our offices and is heavily influenced by laws and regulations that flow from Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). At times the lack of Congressional action on the broken Medicare physician payment system, the loss of consultation codes, the fall in DEXA reimbursement and the “otherworldly” expectations for electronic medical record implementation can be downright discouraging. But we must remember that we are not helpless in matters related to health policy.

The change that we desire and need is possible in Washington, D.C. To get that change requires that we be active, visible, vocal, and focused and that we express our point of view passionately where it will do the most good—in the halls of Congress. I am optimistic we can turn the corner on issues affecting rheumatology, but it will take the action and involvement of rheumatologists—young and old—to improve the state of our profession.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

I have been visiting Capitol Hill with the ACR for the past four years. I find this to be the best way to share my thoughts with policymakers on current issues affecting my practice and my patients. These visits allow me to directly advocate for ways to improve healthcare delivery for patients with arthritis and rheumatic diseases, adequate reimbursement for cognitive specialists, and relief from burdensome regulations. What I have begun to notice is that my legislators and their staff are getting to know me and rheumatology—and our issues.

As a member of the RheumPAC committee, I am on Capitol Hill at least twice a year, and always in September during the annual Advocates for Arthritis conference. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced advocate, Advocates for Arthritis is a great way to get involved with the ACR’s advocacy efforts. It is a two-day event comprising legislative and regulatory speakers, advocacy training, and congressional visits.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

In addition to bringing rheumatologists and health professionals to Capitol Hill, Advocates for Arthritis encourages patient advocates to attend. Patients play a key role in our efforts, as they have personal stories about struggles with cost sharing for biologics, insurance denials, and how the care provided by a rheumatologist has changed their lives.

Page: 1 2 | Single Page
Share: 

Filed under:From the CollegeLegislation & AdvocacyProfessional TopicsProfiles Tagged with:AC&RAdvocacyAdvocating with YouAmerican College of Rheumatology (ACR)CongressLegislationPoliticsProfilerheumatologistRheumPAC

Related Articles

    In Advocacy, Slow and Steady Wins the Race

    April 1, 2010

    Earlier in the year, it seemed that healthcare reform was stopped in its tracks because of the Massachusetts Senate special election—which placed Republican Scott Brown in the seat held by the “Liberal Lion,” Edward M. Kennedy. The Senate Democrats lost their supermajority and the momentum to pass President Obama’s healthcare reform legislation subsided. But through strong lobbying by the president, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590)—comprehensive healthcare reform—on March 21, and the president signed the bill into law on March 23.

    Why We Are Advocates

    September 5, 2012

    Rheumatology advocacy efforts are paying off in 2012.

    Rheumatology Patients & Providers Push for Step Therapy, Workforce Changes

    September 20, 2019

    Rheumatology professional and patients visited with 117 legislators and their staffs during the 2019 Advocates for Arthritis event to champion better rheumatology patient care and access.

    Advocating for Arthritis: My First Time on the Hill

    July 1, 2010

    Amidst the most momentous week of the year’s tumultuous healthcare reform activities, we arrived in Washington, D.C., for the annual ACR Advocates for Arthritis Capitol Hill Fly-In. This was to be my first visit to Congress. Although my alma mater, Georgetown University, was a short distance from the Capitol dome, as a student I had little interest in the political process—particularly as it related to medicine. Now, however, as a young rheumatologist, I am increasingly aware of the impact health policy has on my daily practice. I have also watched the healthcare reform debate unfold over the last year, recognizing that this is a critical time for physicians to be vocal and active. There is a great deal at stake, and we are surrounded daily by the very issues debated in Washington. Why not take our opinions directly to the decision makers?

  • About Us
  • Meet the Editors
  • Issue Archives
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
fa-facebookfa-linkedinfa-youtube-playfa-rss
  • Copyright © 2025 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. ISSN 1931-3268 (print). ISSN 1931-3209 (online).
  • DEI Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Preferences