News & Advocacy

State Update: OAR Annual Meeting Highlights Advocacy

posted: September 22, 2017

The Ohio of Association of Rheumatology’s Annual meeting in Columbus kicked off their sessions with an advocacy update and discussed the importance of members getting involved in the issues.

The President of OAR, Dr. Stephanie Ott, led the discussion that included a recap of the OAR Advocacy Day in May, battling CGS downcoding, discussed efforts to support patient access legislation, future issues and how rheumatologists can get help advocate for their patients and their practices.

The program continued to focus on advocacy throughout the morning sessions. Dr. Michael Schweitz, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) Federal Advocacy Chair, gave a talk on PBMs and their hidden role within the supply chain. Ohio State Medical Society (OSMA) liaison Reginald Fields and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Dr. Edward Herzig both updated attendees on legislative accomplishments in the state and the issues rheumatologist are facing at the federal level.