“We send out blast faxes or e-mails to ACR members when we think they need to be rallied to action,” says Dr. Flood. “There’s also a new list serve that allows conversation on issues.”
2007 Committee Priorities
- Medicare reform, including improvements to the Part D prescription drug benefit and changes to the physician reimbursement formula;
- Increase federal funding for rheumatology research;
- Reverse cuts to dual-energy absorptiometry tests; and
- Support passage of the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.
Committee Strengths
The Government Affairs Committee is a “widely disparate group of people,” says Dr. Flood. It includes representatives from solo practice, group practice, and fellows in training, as well an ARHP representative.
Committee member William Palmer, MD, head of the rheumatology care team at Westroads Medical Group in Omaha, Neb., agrees: “We have a good mix from various disciplines and geographic regions. And Joe Flood is definitely the man for the job.”
The committee works closely with ACR staff members, including Tiffany Schmidt, JD, MBA, vice-president for socio-economic affairs; Kristin Wormley, senior specialist of government affairs; and Aiken Hackett, government affairs specialist.
“Without ACR staff, we’d never get our work done,” says Dr. Flood. “Most members don’t know what a terrific staff we have.”
Jane Jerrard is writing the series on ACR committees.
