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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Legislation & Advocacy

Speaking Out for IPAB Repeal

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On May 11, ACR President Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, and other College members will be in Washington, D.C., to speak in support of proposed legislation or a joint resolution that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). IPAB Defined In an attempt to control future Medicare expenditures, one element of the Patient Protection and…

U.S. Accuses UnitedHealth of Medicare Advantage Fraud

Nate Raymond  |  

(Reuters)—The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has accused UnitedHealth Group Inc. of obtaining inflated payments from the government based on inaccurate information about the health status of patients enrolled in its largest Medicare Advantage Plan.1 The complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday, came after the DOJ earlier this year intervened in two…

California Asks Insurers to Double Up on Rate Filings

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Health insurers seeking regulatory approval for 2018 individual insurance plans can file two sets of premium rates as a way to deal with market uncertainty created by Republicans’ promise to repeal and replace Obamacare, a California state insurance regulator said on Friday. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones told insurers in a letter made…

How to Survive MACRA

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The year 2015 brought the end of the much-maligned Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), sometimes known as the “doc fix.” The SGR established limits on Medicare reimbursement for physicians, and each year, physicians and those lobbying on their behalf were forced to stave off drastic cuts to their payments. “The SGR was Congress’s attempt to control…

ACR Leaders to Talk Policy with Congressional Leaders in D.C.

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On May 11, ACR leaders will fly to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders on behalf of ACR and ARHP members. With so many pressing policy issues facing the medical community this year, we hope that you, too, will let your members of Congress know where you stand on the following issues: Support Medical…

Nevada Rheumatologists Take on Biologic and Biosimilar Substitution

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On March 22, 2017, Ewa Olech, MD, testified at a hearing before the Nevada State Assembly to voice support for A.B. 245, a bill governing biologic medications and biosimilar substitution in that state. She spoke on behalf of the Rheumatology Association of Nevada (RAN), as its president and founder. The bill establishes guidelines regarding biosimilars and requires…

The ACR Agenda in D.C.: Where We Stand in Mid-April

Angus B. Worthing, MD, FACP, FACR  |  

Editor’s note: This blog by Dr. Worthing originally appeared on the ACR’s Advocacy Listserv. Here’s a perspective on the current climate in which your government affairs team works. As you read this list of observations, imagine you’re a lawmaker and try to find where the ACR’s agenda fits into the current landscape: Washington is highly…

Ohio Rheumatologists Advocate for Step Therapy Reform & More

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On a chilly March morning in Lancaster, Ohio, rheumatologist Stephanie Ott, MD, shared the Ohio Association of Rheumatology’s (OAR) current advocacy efforts with ACR@Work between walking her three dogs and driving to her clinic to see patients—some of whom travel from as far away as West Virginia. “This year, we are really focusing on legislation…

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Volunteers Wanted to Join the ACR’s Committees, Board of Directors, Research Foundation

Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD  |  

In 1974, President Nixon established a week in April to recognize the importance of volunteering. National Volunteer Week is scheduled for April 23–29 this year. At the College, we like to acknowledge and thank our volunteers year round. The mission of the College cannot be achieved without the time, effort, talent and dedication of our…