July is Juvenile Arthritis Month
July 21, 2011
Approximately 300,000 children in the U.S. are affected by juvenile arthritis yet there are less than 240 pediatric rheumatologists trained to treat these complex conditions. With 8 states (AK, ID, MT, ND, NV, SD, WV & WY) lacking a single pediatric rheumatologist, many children with juvenile arthritis must travel long distances and face extended wait times which can result in delayed diagnosis and/or treatment.
The Affordable Care Act authorized the creation of a loan repayment program for pediatric subspecialists who work in medically underserved areas. The loan repayment program would incentivize physicians to select pediatric subspecialties by alleviating debt incurred during a pediatric subspecialty fellowship. The ACR and other members of the Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce Work Group are working together to ensure Congress provides funding for this important program.
Take Action: Help raise awareness of this issue by submitting an op-ed to your local paper.
Tips for writing an op-ed
Talking points on pediatric loan repayment program
