Introduction Interest in rheumatology continues to grow, with more than 240 new adult and pediatric fellows to begin their training in the coming academic year. Given the broad and diverse career opportunities, it is an ACR goal to help guide trainees in their career decisions and professional development. Rheumatology fellowship often marks the transition from…
A little more than three years ago, rheumatologist Michael Brooks, MD, FACP, FACR, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, turned years of discussion into something tangible: He and his colleagues got the paperwork and financial requirements in order and officially started the Rheumatology Association of Iowa. “We had been trying to get something going statewide in terms of…
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday struggled over whether to speed up the time it takes to bring to the market copycat versions of biologic drugs, expensive medicines that can generate billions of dollars in sales for drug makers. The nine justices heard arguments in an appeal by Novartis AG of a lower court…
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Challenges abound for the manufacturing of biosimilar drugs—from their sheer size compared with small molecule drugs to the unknowable proprietary aspects of the originator drugs—an expert said at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in a session titled Immunology Update: Biologic Agents: From Nature to Protein Engineering to Biosimilars. Above all, because biosimilars are copies…
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…
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…
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…
Did you know that there are more state legislators in this country than practicing rheumatologists? There are more than 7,300 state legislators alone, and each represents tens of thousands of constituents. As providers, you have a unique expertise that can be valuable to legislators in making decisions on biosimilars, research funding, insurance reform and a…
Editor’s note: This article will be the first in a series of articles highlighting the advocacy work done by state and local societies around the country. The South Carolina Rheumatism Society (SCRS) realizes multiple benefits from its association with the ACR, according to Jeffrey G. Lawson, MD, the society’s treasurer. One example of the support offered:…
Editor’s note: This blog by Dr. Worthing originally appeared on the ACR’s Advocacy Listserv. What a month! House Republicans introduced their bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. The ACR has analyzed the bill and believes the American Health Care Act (AHCA) does not go far enough to help Americans with rheumatic diseases. Brief recap: The…