Category: press release

Below is a press release dated May 7, 2026 from ACR:

New research using death certificate data from 52,942 females, reveals that systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is a leading cause of years of potential life lost among young women in the United States, underscoring the disease’s significant and often underrecognized public health burden.

The study, titled “Lupus, a leading cause of years of potential life lost in young women: implications for public health priorities and research funding,” published in ACR Open Rheumatology, finds that lupus disproportionately affects women during their most productive years, contributing to premature mortality and long-term societal impact.

Years of potential life lost (YPLL) is a key public health metric that measures premature death. The study shows that lupus ranks among the top causes of YPLL in young women. This study adds to the authors’ previous work that showed that lupus is among the leading causes of death —particularly among Black, Hispanic, and other historically underserved populations—highlighting persistent health disparities.

“These findings reinforce what the rheumatology community has long observed: lupus is not only a chronic disease but a life-threatening condition that cuts lives short,” said lead researcher Ram Raj Singh, M.D. at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).  “Despite this, it remains underfunded relative to its impact.”

Key findings from the study include:

• Lupus is a leading contributor to premature mortality among women of reproductive age.
• The societal and economic costs of lupus are amplified by its impact during peak working and caregiving years.

The authors emphasize that the findings should prompt policymakers and research agencies to re-evaluate funding priorities. Despite its high burden, lupus research funding has historically lagged behind other diseases with comparable or lower YPLL.

Advocates say the study strengthens the case for:

• Increased federal investment in lupus research through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Expanded access to early diagnosis and specialized care.
• Development of safe, effective, and affordable treatments for lupus.
• Public health initiatives aimed at reducing disparities and improving outcomes in high-risk populations.

“Addressing lupus requires a coordinated national strategy,” said Andras Perl, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of ACR Open Rheumatology. “We have an opportunity to save lives by investing in research, improving access to care, and raising awareness of this devastating disease.”

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues, leading to inflammation and damage across multiple organ systems. There is currently no cure.

The following is a press release from ACR dated June 24, 2024:

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has submitted to the United States House Committee on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee a response to the recent subcommittee hearing, The Collapse of Private Practice: Examining the Challenges Facing Independent Medicine, highlighting issues facing private practices, including inadequate reimbursement for Medicare physicians, burdensome prior authorization policies, and the growing shortage of physicians in the workforce.

In its letter, ACR notes that rising inflation, cuts to reimbursements to below the cost of treating Medicare patients and growing operating costs threaten the viability of private practices. To address these concerns, ACR advocates for legislation to address two persistent challenges impacting Medicare payment to physicians: inflation and a mandatory budget-neutrality requirement. The Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474) would add a permanent annual inflationary update for Medicare physician payments, while the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R 6371) would help to curtail the negative impact of budget neutrality requirements by raising the current budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $53 million and requiring its regular re-evaluation.

Given the administrative burden created by costly prior authorization policies, ACR noted its support for efforts to streamline the process so that healthcare team members can spend less time negotiating with insurance companies and more time taking care of patients.

Finally, the shrinking physician workforce creates significant challenges across the healthcare continuum. Unless policymakers intervene, the problem will continue to worsen as fewer physicians are asked to meet the treatment needs of a growing and aging patient population. To address this issue, ACR recommends policies to increase training opportunities, address burnout and early retirement in the healthcare workforce, mitigate the impact of medical education debt, and expand workforce access for visa-holding physicians.

“Private practices are essential to our communities and should be supported by policy,” the letter concludes. “The ACR looks forward to partnering with the Ways & Means Health subcommittee as legislative solutions are considered.”

ACR’s full response letter is available here.

The following is a press release issued by ACR dated June 3, 2024:

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has submitted its response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) request for information (RFI) and feedback from stakeholders on how best to enhance Medicare Advantage (MA) data capabilities and increase public transparency.

“Given more than half of Medicare beneficiaries are now choosing Medicare Advantage plans, we applaud CMS for more closely examining this program and, in particular, its impact on those living with complex chronic and acute conditions—including many rheumatic diseases that require specialized expertise and care,” said Dr. Christina Downey, chair of ACR’s Government Affairs Committee. “More reporting and greater transparency around prior authorization processes, care quality, health equity, MA market competition, and prescription drug plans can inform CMS’ decision to implement policies that improve the system for physicians and the healthcare experience for patients.”

ACR notes in its response letter that, “for too long, prior authorization policies by MA-managed care plans have been burdensome and time-consuming and have delayed care for beneficiaries.” To begin addressing this issue, the ACR requests that CMS make publicly available certain metrics on prior authorization, including requests, denials, response rates, reasons for denials, and frequency of denials categorized by type of service. ACR also joined a similar request letter from the Regulatory Relief Coalition asking CMS to implement policies that remove prior authorization barriers to timely care.

ACR also asks CMS to collect and report metrics that would help to better evaluate care quality and outcomes, including value-based care arrangements and efforts to meet health equity goals. This reporting should evaluate potential care disparities faced by MA beneficiaries of color by looking at the prevalence of certain diseases, enrollment in low-rated plans, access to 5-star plans, care outcomes, and average annual premiums. Additional reporting on the percentage of MA beneficiaries under 65 would help paint a clearer picture of how plan design and features impact various populations.

Additionally, given the growth of MA plans, ACR requests that policies support a truly competitive healthcare market. Concerns about consolidation and its impact on quality-of-care prompted ACR to request CMS evaluate bidding figures from each MA plan on an annual basis juxtaposed to the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index score of the markets in which each MA plan operates. Both pre- and post-merger analyses should look at the changes in average annual premiums by the state of residence, plan type, calendar year, and the number of rheumatologists each MA beneficiary has in-network. Consolidation has driven many independent rheumatologists out of practice and limited beneficiaries’ access to care, particularly in underserved communities challenged with accessing a local rheumatologist.

Finally, ACR asks that CMS look specifically at MA prescription drug plans to evaluate their quarterly listings of medications MA beneficiaries have access to and the percentage of MA beneficiaries who reach their out-of-pocket limits every year. Policies that limit choice or increase the cost burden for patients often lead patients to ration their doses or even abandon treatment altogether; in fact, according to recent research, 70% of new patients opt out of filling their prescriptions due to cost. Instead, ACR strongly supports patients having access to the right treatment and any necessary reference products at the right time.

“As the agency begins to explore changes and improvements to MA, ACR stands by as a resource to help ensure that enrollees with rheumatic diseases have better access to the quality care they deserve,” concluded Dr. Downey.

The following is a press release issued by ACR on March 25, 2024:

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today expressed strong support for several key measures included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget. The budget allocates crucial funding to the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) for research on arthritis risks, outcomes, and treatments among service members; secures a significant funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the cornerstone of medical research in the United States; and extends the Conrad 30 program. This program allows foreign-trained physicians to seamlessly enter the United States healthcare workforce after residency completion.

“The ACR applauds Congress for including provisions in the budget that prioritize the future of rheumatology. This budget recognizes the critical need for both a stronger physician workforce and continued research funding for arthritis and rheumatic diseases, ultimately benefiting millions of patients,” said Deborah Dyett Desir, MD, president of the ACR.

The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 delivers a win for veterans and active-duty service members. The act allocates $10 million in the CDMRP for needed arthritis-related research among those who serve our nation. This targeted funding is crucial considering the alarming statistic that one in three veterans is battling arthritis, making it the second leading cause of medical discharge from the Army. By supporting research in this area, the CDMRP benefits veterans and service members and contributes to a broader understanding of rheumatic diseases.

This package also secures a notable funding boost for the NIH, reversing earlier proposals for deep cuts. Importantly, it protects funding for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which plays an important role in ongoing public health battles. This robust NIH funding ensures continued progress in critical medical research, including advancements in treatments and prevention strategies for rheumatic diseases.

The final spending bill also includes an extension of the Conrad 30 program, which allows U.S.-educated and trained physicians with a J-1 visa to enter the American medical workforce upon the completion of their residency. This delivers a much-needed boost to the American medical workforce given the current physician shortage. Typically, J-1 visa-holders training in the U.S. must return to their home country for two years after their program ends before they can apply for a work visa or green card to work in America. Each Conrad 30 waiver translates directly to a physician serving patients in underserved communities, for at least three years, who might otherwise face limited access to care.

“This budget represents a major victory for the 53.2 million Americans living with physician-diagnosed rheumatic conditions,” said Desir. “Including these vital programs promises to unlock significant patient care and research advancements in the coming years. We eagerly await the positive impact this will have on millions of lives.”