RheumPAC Advocacy Fund: Effecting Change

My practice and the Rheumatology Society of the District of Columbia have both strongly supported the RheumPAC Advocacy Fund since its inception because we know that our patients’ access to high-quality rheumatology care and treatment is often dictated by government policies.

RheumPAC helps teach legislators about patients’ complex issues so they can create the best possible policy—and avoid unintended consequences of poor policies. The RheumPAC Advocacy Fund supports growing the PAC so more voices can be heard on all of our behalf. It has never been more important to raise our voices to maximize patient access to rheumatologists, physical therapists, diagnostic modalities, such as musculoskeletal ultrasound, and biologics, biosimilars and other cutting-edge drugs.

Dr. Ott

Stephanie Ott, MD, FACR
AWIR Director, Co-Chair Advocacy; Director of Rheumatology at Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster, Ohio; and President of the Ohio Association of Rheumatology

The Association of Women in Rheumatology strongly believes in advocating for women and all practitioners in Rheumatology, our patients and the myriad issues that affect our day to day practices. If we do not raise our voices to advocate, educate and enlighten our state and federal legislators on the issues burdening our practices and preventing patients from obtaining life changing and altering treatment, then we fail to be an instrument for change. Supporting and partnering with the ACR RheumPAC Advocacy Fund and RheumPAC committee helps open the doors for engagement and dialog with our policy makers and we hope, eventually, the changes we all desire and need.