Two ACR-led resolutions on in-office specialty drug dispensing and the proposed NIH Public Access Plan passed the House of Delegates and will become AMA policy.
The ACR will co-lead with the American Society of Clinical Oncology a resolution on in-office dispensing of specialty drugs and will lead 10 other specialty societies to advance a resolution on the proposed NIH Public Access Plan and equitable access to quality clinical research.
Key successes for the rheumatology community secured by the ACR’s delegation include passage of the ACR’s resolution addressing pharmacy benefit administrators, advances in policies to protect rheumatologists and patients in the post-Dobbs landscape and retention of the rheumatology’s representation in the AMA House of Delegates.
At the AMA House of Delegates meeting in November, the ACR’s delegation will lead over a dozen cosponsoring specialties and medical associations in advancing a resolution addressing serious concerns about third-party pharmacy benefit administrators and the impacts of their disruptive practices.
As the result of years of coalition work with partners at the AMA, the ACR recently celebrated a major advocacy win when the FTC announced an investigation of PBM business practices. Join or renew your AMA membership before Sept. 1 so the ACR can keep delegate seats to drive action within the AMA.
The ACR’s resolution addressing inappropriate Medicare Administrative Contractor policy processes was adopted, and two co-led resolutions on ARPA-H funding and saline shortages also passed the policy-making body.
After two years of special virtual sessions, the AMA House of Delegates will reconvene in person June 10–15. ACR representatives will focus on Medicare physician payment system reform, national drug shortages, funding the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health and more.
Working with the AMA provides a megaphone to amplify rheumatology’s voice at both federal and state levels. This year is the AMA’s next five-year membership review. Join the AMA or renew your membership now to keep the ACR represented in AMA policy bodies.
If passed, the ACR-led resolutions will direct the AMA to advocate for state-level pharmacy benefit manager reform and to fix broken Medicare Administrator Contractor processes. Several other specialties joined the ACR’s resolutions as supporting cosponsors.
Spurred by a recent Cigna policy, the ACR will lead a resolution to oppose insurance companies providing financial incentives for patients to switch treatments. Several specialties are cosponsoring the resolution for a special meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in June.