Arthritis knows no political affiliation. It affects more than 50 million adults and an estimated 300,000 kids in the U.S., regardless of where they live or for whom they voted. We want to assure you that your voice is being heard by both Republicans and Democrats, especially as lawmakers consider changes to our healthcare system. Continue reading Arthritis 101 and Prescription for Access – Making Sure Your Voice is Heard!→
Staci Penner and Graci Diggs have devoted their voices, stories and wholehearted advocacy efforts to helping the arthritis community live better lives. Today, we celebrate their advocacy efforts by announcing their selection for the Arthritis Foundation’s Edward M. Kennedy Advocacy Leadership Award and Emerging Leader Award, respectively. Continue reading Staci Penner and Graci Diggs Selected for Advocacy & Access High Honors→
As we ring in the new year, we celebrate a major step therapy legislative win in New York! An increasing number of health insurers around the country are utilizing fail first or step therapy practices that require patients to try and fail one or more formulary medications before providing coverage for the originally prescribed non-formulary medication. Rather than taking into account the needs of the individual patient, insurers are determining drug sequences based on cost. These practices can vary wildly insurer to insurer with no consistency on how to establish or apply these fail first protocols. Continue reading New York Step Therapy Reform Legislation Signed into Law by Governor Cuomo→
Amy Barron lives with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Her treatment includes biologic infusions that are administered under careful supervision by her physician. When Amy receives her infusion, she is in a familiar environment – her rheumatologist’s office – and her care is supervised by someone who knows her unique medical history, understands the complicated nature of her condition and can monitor her treatment and knowingly respond to adverse reactions. Continue reading Victory – Medicare Part B Demonstration Proposal Withdrawn!→
Imagine that your pharmacist substituted the biologic drug prescribed by your physician for a different drug, an interchangeable biologic product, without your physician being informed. For many people in Ohio who are taking biologic drugs, this scary scenario was a potential reality. Continue reading Ohio Biosimilar Substitution bill signed into Law by Governor Kasich→
Representatives from the employee benefits and pharmaceutical fields convened with members of the arthritis patient community, Arthritis Foundation and the federal government in Washington, DC, on October 5-6, 2016, to discuss issues related to arthritis patient barriers to health care. The two-day event featured insightful presentations from industry experts covering topics from how employers make employee benefit decisions to the evolution of healthcare reform. Continue reading Patient Voice Has Strong Representation at 2016 Arthritis Industry Forum→