What Can Providers Do?
Rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals can take action to help change some of these trends by pressing state and federal lawmakers to rein in step therapy and make care more accessible and affordable for patients, says Dr. Mecoli.
“The ACR advocates on a regular basis in Washington, D.C., to curb costs of medications used to treat rheumatic diseases. Patients and caregivers can also get involved by visiting the ACR’s Legislative Action Center online,” he says. “They can find sample letters to customize to send to their representatives about their own stories and experiences.” The ACR’s annual Advocates for Arthritis fly-in event, which took place in Washington, D.C., earlier in September, gathers rheumatologists and patients to visit the Capitol and meet with legislators to discuss current bills and the issues that people with rheumatic diseases face every day, he adds.
The ACR currently supports several bills designed to address some of the problems highlighted in the Rheumatic Disease Patient Survey results:
- The EMPOWER for Health Act (H.R. 2781) would help increase the number of pediatric subspecialists practicing in underserved areas by providing loan repayment assistance for healthcare professionals who agree to work at least two years in pediatrics;
- The REDI Act (H.R. 1554) would amend the Higher Education Act to defer the accumulation of interest on student loans for those who serve in a medical internship or residency program. This legislation is designed to make medical education more affordable in an effort to expand the workforce; and
- The Safe Step Act of 2019 (H.R. 2279) would place parameters around the use of step therapy and provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol.
For more information on current legislation affecting rheumatology care and patients with rheumatic diseases, visit the ACR Legislative Action Center.
Susan Bernstein is a freelance journalist based in Atlanta.
