In Advocacy, Slow and Steady Wins the Race

In 2009 (and with the start of the 111th Congress), the ACR returned to Capitol Hill and again encouraged co-sponsorship of the Arthritis Act (H.R. 1210/S.983). ACR staff and volunteers met with congressional leadership to finally pass this important legislation. Unfortunately, healthcare reform took precedence over all health bills in 2009, leading to another speed bump.

Although the Arthritis Act was put on the back burner while healthcare reform dominated the first session of the 111th Congress, it is still acquiring co-sponsors and remains a priority of the ACR. We continue to work with the Pediatric Workforce Work Group—a coalition of pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, and related organizations formed to address a shared concern over the critical shortage of specialists available to care for children—on creating a pediatric loan repayment program for all pediatric subspecialties. Although the Arthritis Act includes a provision to create a loan repayment program specific to pediatric rheumatology, the College’s work with the coalition has already led to the introduction of the Pediatric Workforce Investment Act (S. 1206/ H.R. 4273) by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.). This bill was included as a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the comprehensive healthcare reform legislation.

Like the Arthritis Act, another priority piece of legislation to the ACR addresses the devastating cuts to duel-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A provision was included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that returns reimbursement for DXA screenings to 70% of the 2006 levels (approximately $98) for two years while the Institute of Medicine performs a study on the ramifications of payment reductions. This is another victory for years of advocacy.

Although the 70% provision might not feel like a complete victory, it is important to note that on Capitol Hill, money dictates most policy decisions, and returning reimbursement to 100% of the 2006 levels would be too costly. However, as we continue to educate Congress on the importance of DXA screenings as a preventive measure in early detection and treatment of osteoporosis, we can work toward fair reimbursement and ensure patient access to care.

The ACR continues to work with the DXA Sister Societies to encourage a congressional fix to the severe cuts to DXA reimbursement. Ensuring access to DXA screenings would serve as a preventative measure and could save millions of dollars and millions of lives.