Ohio Rheumatologists Advocate for Step Therapy Reform & More

Legislators often are unfamiliar with rheumatic diseases and what rheumatologists do, says Dr. Ott.

“They are looking at costs of care now, but they don’t understand the costs to society if we don’t provide the treatments these patients need now. Their diseases will worsen, and they may not be able to work, or they’ll have to go on disability, or they will need joint replacement surgery, which will be a far greater cost,” she says. “There is such a huge knowledge gap, and it’s our job to educate them and the public.”

Susan Bernstein is a freelance medical journalist based in Atlanta.