Category: press release

The following is a press release from ACR dated September 9, 2024:

The ACR Encourages Patients with Rheumatic Diseases to Implement Self-Management Strategies to Improve Quality of Life

American College of Rheumatology (ACR) experts identified research suggesting that patient self-management is not as prevalent as it should or could be despite the improvements patients experience when implemented. This is due, in part, to many patients lacking awareness and motivation to self-manage and thinking the only way to control their disease is by taking their medication.

Today, the ACR launched its patient education campaign, Self-Management for Patients Living with Rheumatic Conditions for Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM). The campaign addresses the current knowledge gap, educates patients about self-management techniques, and encourages them to collaborate actively with their rheumatology healthcare team to manage their rheumatic condition.

The campaign does not delve into self-care practices yet focuses on self-management strategies for managing a patient’s rheumatic condition.

“One thing that is important to note is that self-management is often used interchangeably with self-care, but they are different. Self-management is an individual’s day-to-day management of their chronic conditions over the course of an illness,” says Bhakti Shah, MD, a rheumatologist with Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown, N.Y., and the campaign’s medical spokesperson. “Self-care consists of those tasks performed by healthy people to prevent illness rather than manage an existing illness.”

The campaign highlights five overarching strategies patients can incorporate in their lives. They are:

• Stress Management –Rheumatic conditions can impact a person’s physical and mental health. Patients can create relaxation practices like meditation, self-reflection, or journaling.
• Medication Adherence –Patients should partner with a clinician to understand their medications, what aspects of their disease they treat, and the importance of continuing these medications.
• Lifestyle Changes –Regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are essential for general well-being and may help improve symptoms.
• Communicate and Collaborate with a Healthcare Team –Patients should maintain open communication with their rheumatology healthcare team, including the rheumatologist, physical therapist, and other specialists.
• Maintain a Support System—Patients should ask family or friends for help when needed, especially during a flare.

“Each patient encounter is an opportunity for rheumatologists (and rheumatology health professionals) to remind patients to incorporate self-management techniques in their lives. During my patient visits, I try to review topics such as medication adherence, physical activity and quality of life and I remind them that we are a team and collaboration will lead to improved outcomes for them,” Dr. Shah continues. “We hope this campaign will empower patients to take a more proactive role in their treatment journey.”

Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month is recognized each September, drawing attention to more than 100 conditions under the umbrella of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and lupus are some of the most commonly known. Others include Sjögren’s syndrome, gout, scleroderma, and psoriatic arthritis. More than 53.2 million American adults—one in four—have been diagnosed with rheumatic disease.

To view the full self-management toolkit, visit www.RDAM.org.

The following is a press release issued by ACR and dated June 12, 2024:

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), representing more than 9,100 rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals, applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (OH), Roger Marshall (KS), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), and John Thune (SD) as well as Congressmen Ami Bera (CA-6), Larry Bucshon (IN-8), Suzan DelBene (WA-1), and Mike Kelly (PA-16).

“The prior authorization process has become unmanageable for both doctors and patients. Insurer red tape imposes a significant burden on clinicians, leading to unnecessary and unclear delays, or even outright denials of patient care,” shared Dr. Deborah Dyett Desir, president of the ACR. She also praised the legislative efforts to address these issues: “We applaud lawmakers’ leadership in pushing legislation that streamlines the prior authorization process. This bill enhances transparency and urges insurers to adopt evidence-based medical guidelines in their prior authorization decisions.”

The new bill is based on legislation that unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives and garnered over 50 Senate co-sponsors in the last Congress. The Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2024 includes changes to reflect policies implemented by CMS since the last attempt at passage, which have the benefit of reducing the legislation’s Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score – the stumbling block for the Senate in the 117^th.

Payers use prior authorization to limit or control access to specific medical treatments and services, often defaulting to denial of treatments that are ultimately approved in over 95% of cases. Since the requirements for prior authorization are not uniform, the process frequently involves hours of paperwork and administrative strain for physicians and healthcare professionals, often preventing patients from promptly accessing their best treatment options.

“ACR stands united with hundreds of physicians, patients, hospitals, and other key stakeholders in endorsing this bill,” Dr. Desir stated. “This legislation represents a crucial initial step toward alleviating the burdensome prior authorization process. We strongly urge Congress to act swiftly and pass this bill,” she concluded.

The following is a press release from ACR dated May 28, 2024:

The American College of Rheumatology recently launched Rheumatology for Primary Care, a new resource for primary care physicians (PCP) and advanced practice providers (APP) offering them expanded support and guidance to identify rheumatic diseases in their patients. As the healthcare professionals who often are the first to encounter patients experiencing symptoms consistent with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and lupus, the ACR hopes to supplement the decreasing rheumatology workforce with the support of PCPs and APPs.

Rheumatology for Primary Care is the latest initiative from the College that provides primary care professionals with tools for patient medical workups, early treatments, medications, referrals to a rheumatology specialist, and more. It is a quick reference tool for PCPs to use when caring for patients before or between their visits to a rheumatologist. The resource includes information about:

• Symptoms of rheumatic conditions such as fever, rashes, or joint pain and associated medical workups for each
• The various disease types with images and descriptions
• Case studies
• Labs to consider and when to order them
• Common rheumatology medications and treatment considerations

“By creating this resource for our primary care colleagues, we can help reinforce rheumatology skills amid a pending workforce shortage and most importantly, meet patients’ needs,” said Beth Jonas, MD, member of the ACR Workforce Solutions Committee and past chair of the ACR’s Committee on Training. “We want rheumatologists to have the support they need at a time when physician availability and patient access can be challenging.”

It is expected that 67M American adults and more than 300K children will have a doctor-diagnosed rheumatic condition over the next several years.

“Many patients with rheumatic symptoms spend months, even years, waiting for an appropriate diagnosis for treatment. The more knowledgeable a primary care physician or APP is regarding appropriate referrals for rheumatic diseases, the faster patients can receive proper diagnosis and better care. Creating this tool was a prudent decision by the ACR and is a sensible next step in working collaboratively with our primary care colleagues,” Jonas concluded.

For more information, visit rheumforprimarycare.org.

The following is a press release issued by the ACR on March 11, 2024:

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) applauds Congress for passing legislation to mitigate the 3.4 percent reduction in physician payments outlined in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule for CY2024 but also calls on policymakers to seek long-term systemic policy changes that will provide more stability and predictability for providers.

“While we commend Congress for this partial fix, rheumatologists remain concerned that without long-term reform to the Medicare payment system, maintaining access to quality care for individuals managing rheumatic diseases and other chronic conditions will be in jeopardy,” remarked Deborah Dyett Desir, MD, President of the American College of Rheumatology. “The annual recurrence of MPFS cuts underscores the urgent need for comprehensive healthcare reforms. The American College of Rheumatology urges Congress to prioritize sustainable solutions, ensuring patient access to essential services and fair reimbursement for healthcare providers.”

The payment cut reduction, from 3.4 percent to 1.68 percent, was included in recently passed broader funding legislation. This reduction comes on top of cumulative cuts that, when adjusted for inflation, amount to an overall decline in Medicare physician payment of 30 percent since 2001, according to the American Medical Association.

As the nation’s leading medical specialty society representing rheumatologists, the ACR remains committed to advocating for policies that prioritize patient well-being and support the needs of rheumatology practices across the country.