ACR details 2017 health policy priorities, which include health care reform

The ACR recently released its 2017 health policy priorities to improve access to care for patients with arthritis and other rheumatologic diseases.

“As the alarming CDC data indicates, now more than ever we need policies that ensure the one-quarter of Americans living with arthritis can access and afford specialized care,” Sharad Lakhanpal, MD, MBBS, president of the American College of Rheumatology, said in the release.

Sharad Lakhanpal

According to the release, the number of rheumatologists is shrinking due in part to fewer physicians entering the specialty.

According to a workforce study conducted in 2015 by the ACR, the demand for adult rheumatologists exceeded the supply by 36%, which is expected to increase to 138% by 2030.

In its statement, the ACR asked for the following policies:

health care reform legislation that provides affordable coverage for patients who are chronically ill, including coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions, as well as limits on out-of-pocket costs and income-based tax credits;
repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board;
appropriate implementation of MACRA, which includes optimization of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System for rheumatology care and support of a rheumatology-inclusive alternative payment model;
proper valuation of cognitive specialty care, which includes ICD-10 service codes that more accurately reflect rheumatology care reimbursement;
enough funding for review of FDA biosimilars in order to ensure introduction of safe and effective therapies that have potential to lower costs of biologics;
limits on overly restrictive insurance practices, which includes step therapy, prior authorization and specialty drug tiers;
enough insurance coverage for biologics, which includes administration coverage for complex drugs and Medicare coverage for reimbursement at trust ASP+6%;
increased research funding for rheumatic diseases, which include funding from the NIH, CDC and Department of Defense; and
interventions to address the shortage of the rheumatology workforce, which would include Medicare funding for general medical education, funding for more rheumatology fellowship positions and support for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program.

“We look forward to working with Congressional leaders and the administration to advance policies that ensure access to high-quality, specialized care for the 54 million Americans living with chronic and debilitating rheumatologic diseases,” Lakhanpal said. – by Will Offit

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