ACR Sets 2021 Policy Priorities for Congress, Biden Administration
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) announced a number of policy priorities that it is encouraging the new Congress and administration to focus on during the year.
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) came out with its list of health
“These updated policy priorities will guide the ACR’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts in 2021 and ensure that we are best prepared to represent our members and the patients under their care,” said Blair Solow, MD, chair of the ACR’s Government Affairs Committee, in a
The main health policy priorities that the ACR laid out included:
- Strengthening the rheumatology workforce
- Expanding access to telemedicine services for patients
- Easing prior authorization requirements that harm patients and providers
- Ensuring that reimbursements are available for rheumatology evaluation and management (E/M) services
- Increasing federal funding for rheumatology research
- And lowering the costs of prescription drugs
The ACR’s focus on strengthening the current workforce for
Although telemedicine services and telehealth reimbursements were expanded by CMS and commercial insurers in 2020, the ACR is also pushing for policymakers to extend services, including reimbursement parity for in-office, audio-visual visits, to providers after the pandemic has ended.
Furthermore, the ACR said that it will continue to support legislation, such as HR 3107, that is meant to reduce the burden placed on patients and providers as a result of prior authorization requirements.
Additionally, the organization said that it will continue to push for a uniform electronic prior authorization process that is connects to electronic health records. Recently, CMS
Medicare reimbursement for evaluation and management (E/M) services provided by rheumatologists and other cognitive specialists was updated by CMS in December 2020. The ACR said that it will continue to advocate more future E/M changes, including the creation of new codes that accurately reflect the time and expertise of E/M service providers.
In 2021, the ACR said that it will encourage Congress to increase funding for federal institutions currently researching rheumatic diseases, including arthritis, and allocate $20 million in existing funds to create a research program at the Department of Defense to investigate the impact of arthritis in military service members and veterans.
The ACR also said that it will continue to push for regulatory and legislative efforts to:
- Give Medicare the power to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to achieve more affordable drug prices
- Limit out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare patients and patients with commercial insurance
- Reduce utilization management tools used in the drug distribution systems that keep patients from accessing their medications
- Oppose insurance policies that restrict and prevent copayment programs from supporting patient copays and deductibles
- Streamline development and approvals for biosimilars and generic drugs
“We look forward to working collaboratively with the new Congress and Administration to advance policies that preserve and expand access high-quality care for the millions of Americans living with a rheumatic disease," said Solow.
Newsletter
Stay ahead of policy, cost, and value—subscribe to AJMC for expert insights at the intersection of clinical care and health economics.
Related Articles
- Modest Reductions in PrEP Coverage Result in Avoidable HIV Infections
September 17th 2025