Legislation & Advocacy

CMS Announces 90% Cut to Obamacare’s Advertising Budget

Reuters Staff | September 4, 2017

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said on Thursday it plans to spend $10 million on advertising for the upcoming Obamacare open enrollment period that starts in November, a sharp cut from the $100 million spent last year. The agency also said it will cut funding for so-called navigators, who help…

ACR Seeks Legislation to Help Ease Workforce Shortage

Thomas R. Collins | August 16, 2017

With a shortage of rheumatologists in the U.S. already a problem and projected to get far worse, the ACR is advocating the passage of a variety of laws that would help narrow the gap. Legislation being fought for by ACR advocacy leaders involves streamlining visa processing for foreign physicians and promoting incentives for physicians to…

N.Y. Rheumatologist Makes Advocacy a Priority

Kelly Tyrrell | August 16, 2017

In 2005, not long after he became a private practice rheumatologist on Long Island, N.Y., Howard Blumstein, MD, dipped his toe into the advocacy pool at the encouragement of his partner, Max Hamburger, MD. “I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the issues that affect our patients and our practices, and I…

Investments in Legislative Advocacy Pay Off for Ohio Association of Rheumatology

Gretchen Henkel | August 14, 2017

Like many other state rheumatology associations, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) has recently been actively advocating for patient care at the state legislative level. The most recent example of OAR’s efforts included an Advocacy Day on May 4, when members met with state legislators to discuss topics of interest. It was the fourth such…

The ACR Seeks Legislation to Help Ease Rheumatologist Workforce Shortage

From the College | August 13, 2017

With a shortage of rheumatologists in the U.S. already a problem and projected to get far worse, the ACR is advocating for the passage of a variety of laws that would help narrow the gap. Legislation being fought for by ACR advocacy leaders involves streamlining visa processing for foreign physicians and promoting incentives for physicians…

Hundreds of Diseases. One Voice.

Carina Stanton | August 5, 2017

Continually building awareness and understanding of rheumatic diseases is critical to both our profession and patient care, according to Kelly Weselman, MD, a rheumatologist in Smyrna, Ga., and a passionate advocate involved in planning the ACR’s annual Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM). “Unlike cancer patients, whose disease is well known, patients battling a rheumatic disease…

Senate Reauthorizes FDA to Collect Fees from Drugmakers

Reuters Staff | August 3, 2017

(Reuters)—The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill allowing the Food and Drug Administration to continue collecting fees from drug companies to review new product applications. The FDA Reauthorization Act renews an existing law that expires on Sept. 30 and which provides the majority of FDA funds used to review pharmaceuticals and determine whether they…

ACR Supports Bill for Increased Medicare Contractor Transparency

Susan Bernstein | August 3, 2017

Working with more than 40 other medical associations, the ACR is supporting proposed federal legislation, the Local Coverage Determination Clarification Act of 2017 (S. 794). The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). The bill’s provisions would add transparency to how Medicare Administrative Contractors…

Insurers to Fill Obamacare Gaps in Ohio’s Individual Market

Reuters Staff | August 2, 2017

(Reuters)—Five health insurance companies in Ohio, including Molina Healthcare Inc., have stepped up to sell health plans in 19 counties that would have been without Obamacare individual coverage in 2018, the state’s insurance regulator said on Monday.1 Ohio’s Department of Insurance said it had worked to draw in insurers for the 20 counties that were…