Advocacy Efforts for Patients & Public
Patient Advocacy is an essential element to conveying the rheumatology message to Congress.
Patients are encouraged to advocate on behalf of the rheumatology community by knowing the issues and contacting Congress. The ACR website keeps patients updated on relevant legislation and provides tools for patients to take action and get involved with ACR advocacy efforts.
If you have any questions regarding legislation or policy OR would like to get involved, please contact Aiken Hackett, Director of Government Affairs, or Katie Jones, Senior Specialist of Government Affairs, at , or call the ACR at 404-633-3777.
What's hot in Washington?
Click here to get Legislative Updates and ACR Action in Washington.
Know the issues
ACR legislative priorities:
- Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act and disease specific legislation
- Sustainable Growth Rate/ Medicare Physician Reimbursement
- Medicare Fracture Prevention & Osteoporosis Act and DXA related legislation
- Research Funding: National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control
- State Children’s Health Insurance Program
- Follow-on Biologics
- Health Information Technology
Get involved—become an advocate!
Advocating is Easy and it is essential that patients get involved. Congress has the authority to increase Medicare reimbursements, pass legislation that would assist you and your doctors, and augment funding for NIH issues that directly affect you.
Here is how you can become an advocate:
The 2009 ACR “Advocates for Arthritis” Capitol Hill fly-in is scheduled for March 9-10, in Washington, D.C.
The program was created to:
- Engage ACR /ARHP members and patients in political advocacy; and
- Increase awareness of rheumatologists and rheumatic diseases on Capitol Hill.
During this event, participants meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss current legislative issues that would benefit physicians and advance research, prevention and care for patients with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, as well as encourage them to support our concerns and most importantly, establish valuable relationships so that the legislators might support our issues in the future.
If you are making a trip to Washington, D.C., take an hour to stop by Capitol Hill and introduce yourself to your legislators and their staff. They are there representing you and your needs. The ACR will provide you with “leave behind” folders and guidance on a congressional visit. Please contact ACR government affairs staff if you need assistance in scheduling a visit or for ACR Issue Briefs.
Members of Congress host “Town Hall Meetings” for their constituents when they are in the district. Call your Representative’s local office and ask if and when one will be held. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your legislators and discuss issues that affect patients and the rheumatology community.
RheumWATCH 
is a monthly publication that informs ACR/ARHP membership about legislative and regulatory issues, grassroots activities and the ACR's efforts in Washington. It is sent out via e-mail on the 15th of each month. Previous updates can be found here.
