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You are here: Home / Articles / The ACR Announces Advocacy Priorities for 2016

The ACR Announces Advocacy Priorities for 2016

December 15, 2015 • By From the College

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The ACR Government Affairs Committee met in mid-December to discuss federal and state issues that the ACR will be focused on in the coming year. The 2016 top advocacy priorities are as follows:

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Regulatory Agenda

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  • Ensure the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is appropriately implemented, with protection for rheumatologists. Many of the details of MACRA have been left to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the ACR focus areas may include influencing the details of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), Alternative Payment Models (APMs), Quality Clinical Data Registries (QCDRs), financial support for practices and other components; and
  • Stop Medicare contractors’ downcoding of biologic infusions, and ensure appropriate reimbursement for complex infusion administration.

Legislative Agenda

  • Address specialty tiers/co-insurance; end excessive patient cost sharing in commercial plans;
  • Pursue new strategies complementing Patients’ Access to Treatments Act to potentially include Senate hearings, GAO investigation of pharmacy benefit manager practices and transparency issues; and
  • Secure line-item funding for a dedicated $20 million arthritis research program at the U.S. Department of Defense.

State-Level Agenda

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  • Address step therapy/step edits impeding patient access to appropriate treatment;
  • Streamline prior authorization processes and forms; and
  • Address specialty tiers/co-insurance; end excessive patient cost sharing.

These are only a few of the many issues affecting rheumatologists, practices and patients. They represent the focus areas on which the ACR will lead or play a leading role in concert with partnering physician and patient organizations.

Get involved in these and other advocacy issues in 2016. Visit the ACR’s new Legislative Action Center.

Filed Under: From the College, Legislation & Advocacy, Professional Topics Tagged With: ACR Government Affairs Committee, Advocacy, committee, Government Affairs, Legislation

You Might Also Like:
  • The ACR’s 2018 Legislative & Regulatory Priorities
  • The ACR Announces Research Agenda for 2016–2020
  • Top ACR Priorities in 2017 Include Drug Costs, MACRA
  • The ACR’s Advocacy at State Legislature Level in 2016 Focuses on Biosimilars, Step Therapy

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

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The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

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