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.
Patient stories are a powerful way to highlight ways that healthcare policies affect the everyday lives of people with rheumatic diseases.
ACR Convergence 2022 will offer several opportunities to learn to leverage your expertise to support the rheumatology community, keep practices solvent and improve care of patients with rheumatic diseases. Look for sessions that explore why and how to pursue effective rheumatology advocacy and how to turn challenges into actionable results.
Throughout the pandemic, the CRA has continued to support rheumatology workforce development initiatives and advocate for state legislation to ensure patient access to rheumatology care. It recently welcomed members back to an in-person conference after a two-year hiatus.
Many members of Congress return to their home states and districts in August, making it a great time to engage them in local conversations about healthcare policies and how they affect rheumatology practices and patients.