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

Legislation & Advocacy

American College of Rheumatology (ACR) on Capitol Hill

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“By tomorrow night, there will be so many more people on Capitol Hill who know—and are sensitive to—rheumatology and the issues that impact you and your patients. There is no substitute for what you are doing,” says Martha M. Kendrick, a partner at Patton Boggs, LLP, the ACR’s lobbying firm. This is what she told the physician, health professional, and patient participants of the ACR’s 2008 “Advocates for Arthritis” advocacy event—termed a fly-in—before they took their personal stories to the lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Advocacy and More

David A. Fox, MD  |  

A week in the life of the ACR

Eye on the Election

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Over the past two years, we have heard presidential candidates touting their messages to voters. Each candidate has crafted messages they believe will appeal to voters, and as campaigns continue to accelerate, these messages will saturate the radio, television, and the reading materials of the American public.

Research Funded by Within Our Reach Highlighted

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Five Within Our Reach science investigators provided overviews and updates of their RA research projects to the newly formed Within Our Reach advisory board at its inaugural meeting, held November 8, 2007.

Increase NIH Funding, Participate in Advocates for Arthritis

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The ACR consistently urges Congress to support issues relating to rheumatologists, rheumatology health professionals, and patients. The primary advocacy goals are: supporting of the “Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2007” (H.R.1283/S.626) and the “Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2007” (H.R.1293/S.1338), finding a permanent solution to the Medicare reimbursement issue, and increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—including the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases—and other agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical and Prosthetic Research Program.

How to Communicate with Elected Officials

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Some people shy away from advocating for issues that are important to them because they feel it is too difficult, think their voice and opinions won’t make a difference, or feel it will be too time consuming to become an advocate.

Medicine’s for the Birds

David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD  |  

In the healthcare game plan, how will physicians get the ball?

Advocates for Arthritis, We’ll See You on the Hill

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The annual ACR Advocates for Arthritis program will be held in Washington, D.C., Feb. 25–26, 2008. As in previous years, physicians, health professionals and patients will visit congressional offices to discuss current legislation that would advance research, prevention and care for patients with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.