News & Advocacy
posted: July 12, 2021
Over the past decade, Medicare reimbursement for osteoporosis screening has greatly declined from $140 in 2006 to $42 in 2018. As a result of reduced screening due to declining reimbursements, it...
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posted: June 16, 2021
In a substantive Columbus Dispatch investigation published over several days in mid-June, reporter Darrel Rowland shed light on payer practices that limit access to medically necessary treatments...
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posted: June 1, 2021
Ohio’s non-medical switching bill (HB 153) had a proponent hearing yesterday. Big thank you to Dr. Ott for coming to Columbus to testify.View the HearingDr. Ott’s testimony starts...
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posted: May 19, 2021
With a new general assembly well underway, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) has picked up several familiar issues from last year and is working to push for meaningful change for Ohio into...
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posted: May 18, 2021
On Friday, May 7th, 2021, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) conducted its second virtual Advocacy Day. Speaking with elected officials and connecting on key issues via Zoom is the next...
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posted: December 10, 2020
The 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will provide much-needed increases in Medicare reimbursement for the evaluation and management (E/M) services provided by rheumatologists and other...
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posted: December 10, 2020
Recently, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule seeking to implement the “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) pricing scheme for Medicare Part B...
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posted: December 10, 2020
On November 12, UnitedHealthcare announced the suspension of their “Accumulator Adjustment – Medical Benefit” program “due to recent feedback we’ve received from...
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posted: December 10, 2020
On December 3, HHS amended the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act to allow healthcare providers to order or administer "covered countermeasures" (e.g...
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posted: December 9, 2020
On Friday, September 11th, 2020, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR), due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency throughout Ohio, took the opportunity to have our first Virtual...
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posted: December 9, 2020
A bill to expand telehealth amid a pandemic that continues to grow in Ohio has entered a state Senate committee for consideration. House Bill 679 passed the Ohio House in June and seeks to expand...
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posted: December 9, 2020
Ohio’s lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers accused of overcharging state agencies for prescription drugs has again been delayed. Originally slated for trial last March, the Bureau of...
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posted: December 2, 2020
House Bill 418 provides increased patient protections by placing restrictions on insurers and pharmacy benefit managers by prohibiting removal of a drug from a formulary or increasing cost-sharing...
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posted: August 3, 2020
The public health emergency triggered by the Covid-19 has created unprecedented challenges to our nation’s health care system, and rheumatologists have faced rapidly changing guidance and...
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posted: August 3, 2020
OAR is taking action to ensure that insurers and pharmacy benefit managers are required to count prescription drug copay assistance toward a patient’s out-of-pocket, or deductible. Copay...
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posted: August 3, 2020
In response to the drug shortage which began in March, OAR expressed concern about the availability of treatments for patients currently taking HCQ and CQ and whether access would be restricted as...
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posted: August 3, 2020
In early 2019, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called on the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) to take steps to ensure Ohioans get the best service in health care. In response, the administration...
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posted: August 3, 2020
Legislation is being introduced to permanently implement the changes previously authorized by the Congress and agencies to increase access to telehealth services during the pandemic. Several...
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posted: June 18, 2020
Congratulations to OAR president, Dr. Stephanie Ott, who was voted internal medicine mentor of the year by the residents of the Fairfield Medical Center (2020).
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posted: June 18, 2020
After much discussion, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology Board of Directors has made the informed decision to go virtual with the 2020 Annual Meeting. The meeting has been reduced to a one-day...
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