Rheumatology on the Hill: The State of Play in Washington, DC

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Central Time

Moderator(s)

Lesley Jackson, MD, MPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vestavia, AL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Session Coordinator(s)

Lesley Jackson, MD, MPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vestavia, AL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

This session updates attendees on current ACR public policy and advocacy efforts impacting their work including cuts to Medicare reimbursement, prior authorization reform, step therapy reform, prescription drug pricing, supporting the medical workforce, access to biosimilars, telehealth, and federal funding for biomedical research.

Learning Objectives:

Describe what the ACR offers members seeking to advocate on behalf of themselves and their parents and how to participate in or promote ACR/ARP advocacy efforts
Explain the role of the Government Affairs Committee and RheumPAC in ACR/ARP advocacy efforts
Discuss recent policy changes, and policies being considered by Congress and the administrative agencies, that impact members of the ACR/ARP

Presentations:

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Central Time

State of Play in DC and the ACR's Advocacy
Speaker: Lennie McDaniel, JD – American College of Rheumatology
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Central Time

ACR on the Issues: Federal Policy Update
Speaker: Joseph Cantrell, JD – American College of Rheumatology
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Central Time

ACR on the Issues: State Policy Update
Speaker: Christina Downey, MD, RhMSUS, FACR – Loma Linda University Medical Center