Patient Advocate Testifies at FDA Meeting on New Oral RA Drug
Arthritis Foundation patient advocate, Jan Wyatt, RN, PhD, presented the rheumatoid arthritis patient perspective and the need to have access to safe and effective therapies to treat RA at a FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee meeting seeking input on a new oral drug proposed for people with moderate to severe RA. Read More
High Prices Patients Pay for "Specialty" Drugs
Amy Melnick, Vice President of Advocacy for the Arthritis Foundation argues that high prices patients pay for "specialty" drugs for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus are not "co-pays" but "co-insurance" that puts unfair burdens on patients. Watch now.
Arthritis Foundation Submits Testimony Requesting Funding for Arthritis Programs
The Arthritis Foundation submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services, Education and other agencies, regarding the Foundations FY 2013 funding requests. This includes requests about arthritis research funding, prevention funding, and the pediatric Rheumatologist shortage. Read More.
President Obama's Budget Recognizes the Need for More Pediatric Rheumatologists
President Barack Obama released his 2013 budget that included $5 million dollars for a pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program based on the advocacy efforts of the Arthritis Foundation. The funding of this program will help alleviate the pediatric rheumatology shortage which exists across the nation. Read More.
Arthritis Foundation President and CEO, Dr. Klippel, Writes About the High Cost of Prescription Drugs as a Barrier to Arthritis Treatment
Dr. Klippel's recently published editorial in The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits discusses the importance of access to biologic medications for people with arthritis and that all patients with arthritis or other chronic diseases deserve affordable access to biologic therapies. Read more.
Calling All College Students!
The Arthritis Foundation Public Policy and Advocacy Department in Washington, D.C. is seeking an intern for the Summer semester. Come gain practical, hands-on-experience working for a non-profit patient advocacy organization. The Department focuses on federal advocacy, policy analysis, issue tracking, and training and support for our grassroots advocates.
Is the cost of prescription drugs (such as a biologic) a barrier to your treatment? Have you stopped taking prescription drugs or modified your treatment plan due to out-of-pocket expenses? If so, your story can be part of the solution to lower costs for arthritis medications. The Arthritis Foundation Public Policy and Advocacy Department is embarking on a new initiative to raise awareness about the unfair cost sharing burden of arthritis medications. Complete the survey to tell us how the cost of arthritis medication has impacted your life.
Advocating for Arthritis is a Common Goal
by David Borenstein, MD
Despite how common these diseases are,awareness – which can lead to earlier diagnosis, better treatments and improved outcomes, more research funding and a steady supply of physicians trained to treat these diseases – isn’t as high as it should be. Through our combined advocacy efforts, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Arthritis Foundation are working to change that. Read more.
Raising Our Voices to Fuel Arthritis Research
“Advocacy is critical to funding research,” says Arthritis Foundation Vice President for Advocacy Amy Melnick. “There are so many different health issues competing for the same dollars... We are the only nonprofit organization specifically dedicated to arthritis research, advocacy and education support. So we are able to convene the best and the brightest from every organization to determine and pursue the best directions for research.”
CDC Study Confirms that Arthritis Strikes 3 Million U.S. Hispanics and Latinos
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) just released findings from a recent study on the prevalence of arthritis in Hispanic populations living in the United States, including Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Dominicans, Cubans, and several others.
Read more about the CDC study findings and resources for Hispanics suffering from arthritis.
Advocates Caught ... Making a Difference!
Come see what's new in advocacy and what people, like yourself, are doing around the country to help the 50 million Americans living with arthritis.
Calling All College Students!
