Welcome to the Arthritis Agenda, an advocacy newsletter of the Arthritis Foundation.

February 2004
Volume 5, No. 1

Update on Medicare Coverage for Arthritis Self-Injected Biologicals

We extend our sincere thanks to the almost 6,000 advocates who sent emails to Health and Human Services Secretary Thompson urging him to direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to include Medicare beneficiaries living with rheumatoid arthritis in the self-injectable therapy demonstration project.  The Arthritis Foundation and rheumatologists from the American College of Rheumatology recently spoke at an Open Door Forum held by CMS to share comments on how best to implement coverage of self-injected biologicals.  A special thank you to Joan Stickles of Sykesville, Maryland who provided a patient perspective on rheumatoid arthritis at the forum. 

In other Medicare news, the Department of Health & Human Services, anticipates the new prescription drug discount card program will be available to beneficiaries beginning in June 2004.