Paige: Small steps forward are actually big steps forward! Congress has become increasingly polarized and less effective over time. Getting bills introduced, logging a large number of cosponsors or seeing a bill go through committee mark-up are big achievements.
Lennie: Yes, Congress has changed, and it’s not as easy to identify what progress on policy looks like anymore. Very few organizations have policy positions on aspects of a multi-thousand-page bill, so declaring victory looks different. A great example is the ACR’s celebration of the aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act that we had lobbied for on behalf of our members. We could not celebrate the entire package as “ACR-supported legislation,” but policies therein were hard-fought victories.
Ashley: Whether it’s regulation, legislation or insurance policies, the ACR is up to bat for our members on the issues that impact the practice of rheumatology, no matter how long it takes. Consider one relatively recent win, the passage of dedicated Congressionally Directed Medical Research Funding within the Department of Defense. Although it took close to a decade to pass, it exemplifies that reform is possible through sustained and consistent advocacy.
Colby: We know our members have limited time and opportunities to consume substantive news, so we step in to find what our members need to know. For example, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is meaningful information, but no doctor has the time to read a 2,000-page document. We find the details on how physicians can treat Medicare patients and how much they get paid for doing so—that’s important.
TR: What do you enjoy the most about what you do?
Adam: My favorite part of my job, by far, is interacting with the members who volunteer for ACR committees, subcommittees and the Board of Directors, many of whom move through various volunteer leadership roles over the years. I know the volunteer experience is very fulfilling to ACR and ARP members as well. I would definitely encourage all members to consider their interests and where they may want to get involved with the ACR.
Paige: I relish the opportunity to chat with ACR members about their practices, interactions with the healthcare system or just their daily lives. It always strikes me as incredible that our members take on the responsibility of advocating for their patients and practices outside of the time they spend in a practice environment.
Ashley: As an early career professional, I appreciate the ability to contribute to moving the needle on significant health policy issues and the opportunity to develop my skill set in a meaningful way while doing so. It is especially rewarding to learn from our members’ perspectives of policy impacts experienced in daily practice and to empower our members through involvement in advocacy.
