At the recent Association of Women in Rheumatology annual conference, AWIR and ACR leaders discussed advocacy’s important role in supporting equitable rheumatologic care.
With 20 partner organizations, the ACR submitted a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging the reinstatement of the terminated experts and reaffirming its commitment to science-based immunization policy.
August offers an opportunity to engage with your elected officials in your state or district. Lawmakers will be considering appropriations bills when they return in September—help make sure the needs of the rheumatology community are top of mind.
The ACR’s press release expressed disappointment about the proposed rule not going far enough to fix Medicare payment for physicians. Substantial media coverage of the response resulted in a combined reach of over 6.1 million people, amplifying the ACR’s voice and advocacy efforts.
In comments to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the ACR outlined several recommendations for a proposed state model law addressing the use of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry.
An ACR-led resolution that calls for the protection of NIH funding and the ability to negotiate indirect costs will become AMA policy, along with several other resolutions supported by the ACR.
Issues discussed at a meeting with the Office of Management & Budget included increasing Medicare reimbursement for physicians, telemedicine permanence, removing G2211 restrictions, adequate reimbursement for therapies and more flexibility for chemotherapy administration codes. The proposed rule is currently under review by the OMB, which is usually the last step prior to releasing publicly for stakeholder review and comment.
Signed into law in April, the legislation will ban direct and indirect PBM ownership of pharmacies, effective Jan. 1, 2026. It addresses longstanding concerns about conflicts of interest, market consolidation and patient access created by vertically integrated PBM pharmacy models.
In response to agency requests for feedback on how to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burden on Medicare program stakeholders and small business owners, the ACR called for the removal of certain regulations related to prior authorization, pharmacy benefit managers and Medicare Part B and Part D access.