WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Sept. 14, the ACR praised the House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing bipartisan legislation intended to make it easier for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries to access the timely care they need. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173) passed the House on a voice vote. If enacted, the bill will create…
Patient stories are a powerful way to highlight ways that healthcare policies affect the everyday lives of people with rheumatic diseases.
The American Medical Association’s Relative Value Update Committee advises the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on appropriate reimbursement rates for specialty services. Luke Barré, MD, MPH, RhMSUS, is learning the ropes as the ACR’s newest representative.
WASHINGTON—The U.S. government will soon begin hiring experts and collecting the data needed to launch direct negotiations over prescription drug prices for older and disabled people, a top Biden administration official told Reuters. President Joe Biden last week signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, introducing new policies to tackle climate change, taxes and the…
In late August, leaders of state and local rheumatology societies from across the nation connected with each other and with ACR president Ken Saag, MD, in a roundtable-style meeting. State and local rheumatology leaders shared local updates, successes and challenges and discussed ACR initiatives.
RheumPAC has been working to ensure that individual legislators understand what rheumatology practices and patients face when it comes to delivering high quality care to those with rheumatic diseases and advocating for policies to support affordability of care, workforce expansion, prior authorization reform and fair reimbursement levels.
In recent months, the ISC has engaged with payers to reduce administrative burden on practices and continues to advocate to the CMS for the use of complex administration codes for biologics.
As of July 1, a Florida bill increases oversight of pharmacy benefit managers and offers some protection for pharmacies. However, the legislation has limited effects on patients and providers, highlighting the need for additional reform.
Ongoing ACR advocacy efforts are working to keep biologic drugs accessible to rheumatology patients, defending the ability of rheumatology practices to use the complex chemotherapy codes for administration of biologic therapies.
Many members of Congress return to their home states and districts in August, making it a great time to engage them in local conversations about healthcare policies and how they affect rheumatology practices and patients.