The ACR’s Government Affairs Committee has placed Medicare reimbursement as the single most important issue in rheumatology advocacy in the 2024 ACR policy priorities, with good reason. Falling reimbursement has many downstream effects that negatively impact practice sustainability, patient access to medical care, the growing workforce shortage and physician burnout. I personally invite every rheumatologist in the country to contact your legislators and share the impact diminishing reimbursement has had on your practice and your ability to care for your patients. Remember to renew your memberships to both the ACR and AMA to maximize your impact on policy that directly affects your ability to thrive in your professional life. Go to the ACR’s Legislative Action Center to share your story today.
Christina D. Downey, MD, is chair of the ACR’s Government Affairs Committee and an associate professor of rheumatology and division chief at Loma Linda University, Calif. The opinions expressed are her own and she does not speak on behalf of her employer.
References
- Official Data Foundation. CPI inflation calculator. 2024 Feb 13.
- American Medical Association. Physicians are more than healers—they support millions of jobs. 2018 Jan 8.
- Payerchin R. Physicians call on lawmakers to turn back the cut to Medicare reimbursement. Medical Economics. 2024 Feb 15.
- American Medical Association. AMA president sounds alarm on national physician shortage. 2023 Oct 25.
