Tag Archives: arthritis advocates

2018 Platinum Ambassador Assembly Highlights

Platinum Ambassador Assembly – Highlights from Capitol Hill

Earlier this week, we held our first ever Platinum Ambassador Assembly in Washington, D.C. The Assembly is a meeting for our most highly engaged advocacy volunteers to hone their skills, meet other Platinum Ambassadors from around the country and share their stories with members of Congress. Our Junior Ambassadors and future leaders – volunteers committed to achieving Platinum Ambassador status in 2018 – were also in attendance to learn, share their stories and fight for the over 54 million Americans who are living with arthritis.
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california arthritis advocacy summit

California Advocates Work for Passage of Bill That Will Improve Continuity of Care When Insurance Carrier Changes

It’s not uncommon for patients to change their insurance carriers. Sometimes it’s by choice, perhaps because they find a carrier that better suits their needs. Other times, it might be out of their control, like when their employment changes. Regardless of why carriers are changed, should patients be required to restart the utilization management process with their new insurance carrier, essentially starting over and potentially undoing years of effective and consistent care? Continue reading California Advocates Work for Passage of Bill That Will Improve Continuity of Care When Insurance Carrier Changes

Arthritis Foundation Advocate Awards

Staci Penner and Graci Diggs Selected for Advocacy & Access High Honors

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.
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Missouri Arthritis Biosimilars Senate Bill

Breaking Advocacy News in Missouri – Senate Bill 875 Regarding Biosimilars has Been Signed Into Law!

Kyleigh O’Brien is an 11-year-old with juvenile arthritis and has testified in front of the Missouri legislature twice this year. Why does she do it?

She wants to be a voice for the estimated 300,000 children in the United States who live with arthritis. Kyleigh has advocated most recently for the passage of Missouri Senate Bill 875 (SB 875), which has now been signed into law by Governor Jay Nixon.
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Step Therapy Advocates North Carolina

Arthritis Foundation Advocates, Big and Small, on the Front Lines of Improving Access to Medications

Logan Govan (12-years-old) and Michelle McArthur testify before the North Carolina legislature.

Having arthritis is challenging enough. Now imagine being told by your insurance provider that instead of approving the treatment prescribed by your physician, they will only cover less expensive treatments to first see if they are effective.

For many people battling arthritis and other chronic diseases, this is their unfortunate reality. Known as Step Therapy, or sometimes Fail First, insurance providers are refusing to cover physician prescribed treatments in lieu of less expensive options, all to save a buck. For people with arthritis, this oftentimes means that their arthritis and related pain and disability will continue to advance while they try, and many times fail, medications that their insurance provider insists they try first.

Arthritis Foundation Advocates, big and small, are battling for you!

Logan Govan Arthritis AdvocateLogan Govan and Michelle McArthur are volunteer members of the Arthritis Foundation’s Advocate program. Logan is 12-years-old and has juvenile arthritis. Michelle is an adult living with rheumatoid arthritis. Although they look very different, they have one thing in common – together they are advocating for the arthritis community. Both Logan and Michelle recently met with representatives from the North Carolina legislature to tell their arthritis story and ask for help. CLICK HERE to watch a news report of their testimony.
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Advocates in Action: Arthritis Ambassadors Recruit Members of Congress

Miss-Tennessee-advocateThe Arthritis Foundation’s network of Advocates and Ambassadors were hard at work engaging members of Congress during the annual August congressional recess. Spanning mid-August to early September, the recess gives Advocates the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their representatives to encourage them to join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus, support arthritis-related legislation and fight for funding for arthritis research initiatives.
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