Dr. Bryant
The ACR delegation submitted multiple resolutions to the AMA HOD this year that were passed and became AMA policy, including two resolutions regarding PBM business practices. “The ACR’s ability to bring resolutions to the AMA HOD over the last several meetings strengthened AMA policy, enhanced advocacy around the ACR’s concerns with PBMs and had a significant impact on the recent decision by the FTC,” Dr. Bryant says. In a separate advocacy win for the ACR last month, the AMA HOD adopted the ACR’s resolution to address the lack of transparency around decisions made by Medicare Administrative Contractors.
Other rheumatology issues that the ACR has recently authored and led or co-sponsored actions on in the AMA House of Delegates include:
- Copay accumulator policies;
- Complex treatment administration and reimbursement;
- Payer financial incentives to patients for switching treatments;
- Mandatory payment models from CMMI;
- Home infusion issues;
- Biosimilar interchangeability;
- Drug pricing issues;
- Private payers and consultation codes;
- Prior authorization and Medicare Advantage; and
- Step therapy reform.
The ACR voice within the AMA is also enhanced through membership and participation in several caucuses within the AMA, including the Pain and Palliative Medicine Caucus, Mobility Caucus, Cancer Caucus (due to shared concerns regarding infused medications) and the Specialty and Service Society.
The Benefits of AMA Membership
In addition to securing the ACR’s advocacy voice within the AMA, being a member of AMA has a number of personal benefits, including access to research, education, practice insights, life insurance and other discounts. For those who serve as delegates, AMA membership can also provide a new way to support patient care, notes Dr. Barré.
Dr. Arriens
Dr. Arriens describes her experience as an ACR alternate delegate as eye-opening to see how the AMA serves as a megaphone to amplify advocacy support for issues important to rheumatology. “Issues that we have received help with from the AMA that have benefited me or my patients have included major changes to the ABIM MOC program, improvement of reimbursement for cognitive specialties like rheumatology, and improvement to access of biologic medications to my patients.” She has also seen the ACR bring forth issues that were not yet on other physicians’ radars, such as challenges with prior authorization and the current saline shortage. To this end, Dr. Arriens also stresses the important role all ACR members play in bringing issues to the ACR that are affecting their practices. “This communication is vital so that the ACR can advocate on their behalf, often through the AMA,” she notes.
