The Voice of Rheumatology was established as an informal coalition to aid effective collaborations on issues important to the rheumatology community. The group has grown to become an integral mechanism for the exchange of information among groups including the ACR, Arthritis Foundation, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO), Alliance for Women in Rheumatology and more to strengthen partnerships on a range of federal, state and regulatory issues.
Legislators head home to their districts in August, providing a chance for you to engage them in personal conversations about healthcare policies and how their work affects rheumatology practices and patients.
Applications are open for this year’s Advocates for Arthritis, which brings together patients and rheumatology professionals to advocate on Capitol Hill. It will be held Sept. 26–27 in Washington, D.C.
It’s easy for rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals to feel frustrated by burdensome administrative tasks, complicated insurance policies and other healthcare hurdles. Advocacy offers a way to channel those complaints into constructive action, says Belinda Birnbaum, MD.
With an influx of new faces in the 118th Congress, Government Affairs Committee Chair Christina Downey, MD, notes that now is a great time to establish a relationship with your member of Congress and help them understand the day-to-day of what it takes to take care of patients.
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One of the newer state rheumatology organizations, the Rheumatology Association of Iowa, brings together rheumatology professionals, offering connections to fill rural care needs and advocate for policies that support patient care. The organization’s 9th annual meeting will be Feb. 24–25.
When she saw vaping taking hold at a middle school, Kamala Nola, PharmD, MS, spoke up about concerns for the students’ risk of rheumatic disease and other health issues. At ACR Convergence 2022, Dr. Nola emphasized that every healthcare professional can act as an advocate through everyday actions.
The new chair of the ACR’s Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Downey says physicians play a vital role in helping policymakers understand how policies and laws affect patients and the practice of rheumatology.