News & Advocacy

OAR Signs on to CMS Comments on IPI

posted: February 27, 2019
The OAR prepared a letter early this year for membership to use offering comments on the proposed International Pricing Index Model (IPI) for Part B drugs. The OAR letter urged the administration... Read More

New Legislation Addressing Accumulator Adjustment Programs on the Rise

posted: February 27, 2019
Accumulator Adjustment Programs, also known as “out-of-pocket protection” or “coupon adjustment” programs, are a new utilization management tool being used by insurers and... Read More

Step Therapy Bill Signed into Law! What Next?

posted: January 8, 2019
Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed the step therapy bill into law! Patients will now be provided a clear process to override step therapy protocols in the state of Ohio. Thank you to everyone who... Read More

CMS Releases 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Finalized Rule

posted: December 11, 2018
Included in the proposed changes were plans to collapse evaluation and management codes (E/M) levels 2-5 under a single payment rate. CMS argued a single blended payment rate would reduce... Read More

CMS Unveils IPI Demonstration Project

posted: December 11, 2018
 In a speech to the Department of Health and Human Services in late October, President Trump unveiled his administration’s new plan to reduce Medicare’s costs for prescription... Read More

Step Therapy Legislation Nears Finish Line

posted: December 11, 2018
In a huge win for Ohio advocates, two important pieces of step therapy legislation have been voted out of committee. House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 56 were introduced in February but sat in... Read More

UHC Reverses Downcoding Decision

posted: December 11, 2018
Earlier this year, UHC announced that they would no longer reimburse complex administration codes (96413 and 96415) for four biologic drugs — Actemra, Entyvio, Orencia and Simponi. They would... Read More

Ohio Election Recap

posted: December 11, 2018
The 2018 midterm elections are officially over, with only a few races still undecided. While critics continue to debate whether the 2018 midterm election results resulted in a “blue wave... Read More

OAR Presents Advocacy Update At Annual Meeting

posted: September 26, 2018
Rheumatologists from around Ohio gathered in Columbus from August 24 - 25, 2018 to attend the OAR 13th Annual Meeting. During the two day meeting, attendees were treated to a robust agenda filled... Read More

Paramount Revises Viscosupplementation Policy

posted: September 26, 2018
Paramount has made changes to their policy regarding viscosupplementation for osteoarthritis of the knee which will impact patients’ ability to access appropriate therapeutic options... Read More

Step Therapy Legislation Struggles To Move Forward

posted: September 26, 2018
Legislation aiming to better protect patients from step therapy has continued to stall in the Ohio legislature. House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 56 were introduced in February but both have yet to be... Read More

PBM Bill Continues To Make Progress In Ohio Legislature

posted: September 26, 2018
A bill seeking to reform PBM practices passed through the Ohio House earlier this summer and has been introduced in the Senate. House Bill 479 would prohibit the practice of PBMs requiring... Read More

OAR Signs on to Drug Pricing Comments

posted: September 26, 2018
The OAR signed on to the Coalition of State Rheumatology’s (CSRO) comments submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services in response to the request for information included in its... Read More

OAR Action Alert: Tell CMS to Reject E/M Payment Changes in 2019 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule

posted: August 29, 2018
As part of the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule, CMS is proposing a number of documentation and payment changes for evaluation and management (E/M) visits that if implemented, would have a major impact... Read More

Auditor Report on Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Pharmacy Services

posted: August 16, 2018
The Ohio Department of Medicaid (Department) requires Managed Care Plans (Plans) to offer prescription drug benefits. However, these Plans contract third party service organizations, known as... Read More

Roland W. Moskowitz, MD, 1929 – 2018

posted: August 6, 2018
“I am sad to share the recent death of Dr. Roland ‘Rollie’ Moskowitz. He was a wonderful teacher, superb Rheumatologist, a past Recipient of the Ohio Rheumatologist Life-Time... Read More

Physician and Patient Advocates Gather in Columbus for Advocacy Day

posted: May 29, 2018
Members from OAR gather for a photo before heading to legislative meetings.Members from the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) partnered with patient advocates from the Arthritis Foundation... Read More

Step Therapy Legislation Continues to Stall in Committee

posted: May 29, 2018
A bill to provide an exceptions process for patients dealing with step therapy has continued to struggle moving forward through the legislative process in the Ohio Statehouse. House Bill 72 and... Read More

Measure to Save Patients Money at the Pharmacy Builds Momentum

posted: May 29, 2018
The Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) and nearly 30 other organizations have joined the Ohio Prescription Partnership coalition to push for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) reform legislation... Read More

Are You Experiencing Problems with Ohio’s Prior Authorization Law?

posted: May 29, 2018
The OAR has taken notice that some insurers in Ohio may not be abiding by the response timeline outlined in state statute. We are asking for providers to work with their office administrators who... Read More