The ACR affiliate society council is designed to address the practical needs of community rheumatologists by offering a range of services to state/local affiliates. The program includes state/local rheumatology groups who benefit from the ACR on ways to strengthen their organizations, enhance their educational activities, and provide support for their members. Each state/local affiliate serves as a bridge between local rheumatologists and the ACR.
Here you will find information on the resources and services available to state/regional affiliates, including contact information, policies and procedures for the state/regional affiliate program and a list of ASC affiliates.
Purpose:
- Enhance communication between the ACR and individual physicians
- Work in conjunction with state and local societies on practice advocacy issues
- Create best practices by state/local societies sharing information
- Learn more about issues affecting physicians at the local level
Benefits:
- Yearly presentation from the ACR Certified Professional Coder
- Yearly presentation from an ACR Board member providing an ACR update
- Policy analysis from the Health Policy department
- Information on Federal legislation
- Access to the ACR’s Certified Professional Coder regarding reimbursement and insurance issues
- Assistance in model bylaws for associations that are being established,
- List serve for the society
- State or local specific mailing labels once per year
- Complimentary health professional speakers/materials available for your state and local society meetings
- View ACR letter templates about drug safety, Medicare, insurance, patient documentation, or legal issues.
For more information about the affiliate society council, contact Cindy Gutierrez, MBA in the ACR Practice Advocacy Department at (404) 633-3777 ext 310 or by e-mail at cgutierrez@rheumatology.org.
Members, login for additional contact information.
Arizona United Rheumatology Alliance
Association of Idaho Rheumatologists
California Rheumatology Alliance
Colorado Rheumatism Association
Connecticut Rheumatology Association
Florida Society of Rheumatology
Georgia Society of Rheumatology
Kentucky Rheumatology Alliance
Maine Rheumatology Society
Massachusettes/New Hampshire Rheumatology Association
Michigan Rheumatism Society
Mississippi Arthritis and Rheumatism Society
New York State Rheumatology Society
North Carolina Rheumatology Association
Ohio Association of Rheumatology
Oregon Rheumatology Alliance
Pennsylvania Rheumatology Society
Philadelphia Rheumatism Society
Rheumatism Society of D.C.
Rheumatology Society of North Texas
South Carolina Rheumatism Society
South Texas Association of Rheumatologists
Tennessee Rheumatology Society
Virginia Society of Rheumatologists
Washington State Rheumatology Association
State and local societies that affiliate with the ACR will have an opportunity to send one member to the Affiliate Society Council. The ASC will discuss policy issues affecting rheumatologists in local areas. The ASC will have an opportunity to present issues and ideas to the Committee on Rheumatologic Care for further discussion and action by the CORC and Health Policy staff. Council members must be ACR members in good standing.
The ACR will have two council meetings each year. The first meeting will be held in conjunction with the Advocates for Arthritis meeting, typically held in February or March each year. The ACR will set-up the meeting, hold hotel rooms and supply the name of the ACR travel agency so the council member can make plans to attend the meeting. The ACR will pay reasonable travel and hotel costs (attendee must stay at the ACR host hotel). The second meeting will be held in conjunction with the ACR annual meeting. The council member will be required to pay all costs associated with traveling and housing at the annual meeting.
Affiliate societies may select an alternate if the council member is unable to attend. The alternate must also be an ACR member in good standing. The ACR must be notified at least one month in advance if an alternate will attend the meeting.
Policy Development and Committee Relationships:
Affiliates will have an opportunity to influence national policy by submitting resolutions to the CORC. Once national policy has been established, the ACR expects that affiliate societies will support the national priorities and policies. If an affiliate takes a contrary position, all communication regarding the contrary position should include a clear statement regarding the differences of ACR policy. ACR encourages the affiliates to copy ACR staff on correspondence to officials at insurance companies or legislative officials.
The Affiliate Society Council is a subcommittee of the CORC. Questions, concerns, and policy requests generated by the Affiliate Society Council will be sent to the CORC for review. The requests will be sent via
Termination:
Either party may terminate the Affiliate relationship at any time. The ACR will terminate the Affiliate relationship if the Affiliate fails to adhere to ACR policies, procedures, and standards. ACR will give the Affiliate written notice and a reasonable amount of time to fix the problem.
If an Affiliate chooses to terminate the affiliation relationship, the president of the society must send a letter requesting termination by certified mail to the ACR Executive Offices.
Once the affiliation relationship is terminated for any reason, both parties must remove any language identifying the society as an affiliate. If a society chooses to re-affiliate, the society must re-apply.
Staff Contact:
Cindy Gutierrez, MBA
(404) 633-3777 ext 310
cgutierrez@rheumatology.org
Meetings
ASC Meeting Dates
March 4-6, 2012
Crystal City Marriott
Crystal City, VA
Apply
State/local societies wishing to affiliate with the ACR should complete the following Affiliate Society Council application. 
