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Letters to Policy Makers

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Rheumatology advocacy involves several branches of government and various agencies. ACR advocates to Congress, federal agencies, and others by writing or signing on to various policy letters.

2026 Federal Advocacy Letters

Barriers to Access

HHS: Barriers to Access – ACR signs AAP statement expressing concern over changes to CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Charter – 4/15/2026

Physician Payment

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR joins coalition recommending reforms to modernize the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) – 4/16/2026

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR joins coalition of healthcare organizations supporting the Chronic Care Management Act – 4/14/2026

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR Comments on Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 Reforms and Modernization – 1/16/2026

Access to Treatments

Congress: Access to Treatments – ACR joins request for language directing CMS to establish a formulary adequacy standard on access to physician administered biosimilars – 4/16/2026

CMS: Access to Treatments – ACR urges CMS to revise policies related copay assistance programs in comments on HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027 – 3/4/2026

Congress: Vaccines – ACR joins coalition requesting robust oversight regarding the abrupt changes to the US childhood vaccine schedule announced Jan. 5, 2026 – 1/9/2026

Medical Workforce

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR Joins coalition letter supporting the H-1Bs for the Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act, legislation which would exempt healthcare professionals from the new $100,000 H-1B visa petition fee – 4/15/2026

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR joins physician group letter calling on the administration to reduce barriers to visa access for qualifying physicians – 4/8/2026

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR joins broad coalition in calling for $45 million in funding for programs supporting physician mental health established by the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act – 3/27/2026

Congress: Medical Workforce – The ACR joins coalition supporting the Rural Residency Planning and Development Act (H.R. 6468) – 3/16/2026

Secretary of Education: Workforce – ACR and ARP submit comments to the Department of Education opposing proposed changes to definitions of professional degrees – 3/5/2026

Secretary of Education: Workforce – ACR leads broad coalition of healthcare organizations opposing proposed changes to definitions of professional degrees – 3/5/2026

Congress: Medical Workforce – The ACR joins broad coalition opposing proposed revisions to the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application – 2/6/2026

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Research Funding

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins Arthritis Foundation and other organizations in calling for robust funding for the CDC Arthritis Program – 3/19/2026

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins broad coalition of healthcare organizations recommending an 8.7% increase in NIH funding for FY2027 – 3/9/2026

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins coalition calling for $500 million in FY27 funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) – 3/2/2026

Congress: Medical Research – ACR, Rheumatology Research Foundation and Arthritis Foundation call on Congress to ensure swift installation of new NIAMS Director – 2/20/2026

NIH: Medical Research – ACR, Rheumatology Research Foundation and Arthritis Foundation urge NIH Director Bhattacharya to ensure leadership continuity at NIAMS – 2/20/2026

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins coalition opposing cuts to the CDC Arthritis Program in FY2026 appropriations bill – 1/23/2026

Barriers to Access

Congress: Barriers to Access – ACR joins AMA coalition endorsing the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act for prior authorization reform in Medicare Advantage – 12/9/2025

Congress: Barriers to Access – The ACR joins a coalition of 224 organizations endorsing the Safe Step Act to establish a clear and transparent step therapy exception process for patients on employer-sponsored health plans – 9/26/2025

CMS: Barriers to Access – ACR coalition calls for CMS to rescind the WISeR model for prior authorization in Medicare Fee-for-Service – 8/12/2025

HHS Office of the Inspector General: Barriers to Access – ACR-led coalition calls for OIG to further study impact of step therapy on access to Part B drugs – 8/4/2025

Congress: ACR coalition applauds House Ways and Means Committee for holding a hearing to examine challenges in the Medicare Advantage Program – 7/22/2025

Congress: Medicaid – ACR joins medical specialty coalition urging Congress to enact physician-led, patient-centered Medicaid policy that preserves patient access to care – 5/13/2025

Congress: Medicaid – ACR joins medical specialty coalition expressing concern with proposed changes to Medicaid affecting healthcare coverage – 5/13/2025

Office of Management and Budget: Barriers to Access – ACR calls for the removal of various burdensome Medicare regulations – 5/12/2025

Congress: Barriers to Access – ACR joins coalition thanking Congressional champions for reintroducing the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act for prior authorization reform – 3/28/2025

HHS: Barriers to Access – ACR joins coalition comment letter on HIPAA Security Proposed Rule – 3/7/2025

CMS: Barriers to Access – ACR coalition calls for streamlining prior authorization in Medicare Advantage – 1/27/2025

Physician Payment

CMS: Physician Payment – ACR response to CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule final rule – 12/12/2025

CMS: Physician Payment – ACR comments on 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule – 9/10/2025

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR joins coalition partners applauding the introduction of the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act to stabilize part B reimbursement – 8/22/2025

Congress: Quality Payment Program – ACR-led coalition calls for better access to Medicare claims data for physicians – 8/4/2025

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR-led Coalition calls for Congress to integrate registries in value-based models and improve access to claims data – 7/09/2025

Congress: Medicare Reimbursement – Medical Specialty Coalition Calls on Senate to adopt reconciliation language establishing a permanent inflationary update to the MPFs – 6/23/2025

Office of Management and Budget: Physician Payment – ACR coalition calls for CMS to rescind specific MIPS regulations burdening clinical data registries – 5/12/2025

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR joins medical specialty coalition calling for the inclusion of a physician pay fix in the next government funding package – 3/10/2025

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR coalition calls for inclusion of the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act in forthcoming government funding package to offset current MPFS cuts and provide an inflationary update to payment – 2/28/2025

Congress: Physician Payment – ACR joins AMA coalition endorsing legislation that would halt current CY25 fee schedule cuts and provide a 2% inflationary update to payment – 2/10/2025

CMS: Physician Payment – ACR comments on final 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule – 1/17/2025

Access to Treatments

Congress: Barriers to Treatment – The ACR applauds the reintroduction of the Help Copays Act in the U.S House to prohibit the use of accumulator policies by health plans – 12/4/2025

Congress: Barriers to Treatment – ACR joins coalition calling for Congress to enact PBM transparency and accountability reform – 11/11/2025

Congress: Access to Treatments – ACR responds to leadership changes at the CDC, urging the Committee to exercise its oversight authority in upcoming hearing – 8/29/2025

HHS: Barriers to Treatment – ACR and state rheumatology society letter urges Secretary Kennedy to reinstate previously terminated members of ACIP and to reaffirm HHS’s commitment to a science-driven process for guiding national immunization practices – 7/31/2025

An Open Letter to the American Public: Barriers to Treatment – ACR joins AMA in reaffirming support for vaccination to protect against respiratory viral infections – 6/25/2025

HHS: Barriers to Treatment – ACR Joins Medical Specialties Coalition Asking for Reinstatement of CDC ACIP Panel and Voicing Concerns Regarding the Impact of HHS Actions on Vaccine Access – 6/18/2025

Congress: Barriers to Treatment – Rheumatology coalition calls for FY26 report language to address barriers to biosimilar access and reimbursement (identical letter sent to the House) – 6/13/2025

Congress: Barriers to Treatment – ACR-led Coalition calls for Congress to address step therapy and inadequate reimbursement for biosimilars – 4/9/2025

Congress: Barriers to Treatment – The ACR applauds the reintroduction of the Help Copays Act in the US Senate to prohibit the use of accumulator policies by health plans – 3/13/2025

CMS: Barriers to Treatment – ACR-led coalition responds to biolimilar provisions in CY26 MP and Part D Final Rule – 1/27/2025

Medical Workforce

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR applauds the reintroduction of the Specialty Physician Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act to establish a loan repayment program for specialty physicians practicing in rural communities – 10/2/2025

Department of Homeland Security: Medical Workforce – The ACR Joins medical coalition calling for the Secretary to exempt J-1 physicians from changes to the duration of status rule – 9/29/25

Department of Homeland Security: Medical Workforce – The ACR joins the AMA and other medical societies calling on the Secretary to exempt physicians from a recently announced $100,000 H-1B visa application fee – 9/25/2025

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR applauds the reintroduction of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act to expand Medicare supported GME Slots – 9/9/2025

Secretary of Education: Medical Workforce – ACR joins multispecialty coalition urging the Secretary to maintain existing federal loan limit exceptions for borrowers pursuing a medical education – 8/28/2025

US Senate: Medical Workforce – ACR joins medical specialty societies expressing concern with student loan provisions in the reconciliation package posing barriers to pursuing a medical education – 6/24/2025

US Senate: Medical Workforce – ACR joins coalition letter expressing concern with changes to student aid provisions in the reconciliation package – 6/4/2025

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR joins multispecialty coalition endorsing the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, calling for $30 million in program funding for FY26 (identical letter sent to both chambers) – 5/22/2025

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR joins multispecialty coalition expressing concern with proposed tax change that would negatively impact private practice – 5/20/2025

US House: Medical Workforce – ACR joins medical specialty coalition letter addressing concern with proposals out of Education and Workforce Committee affecting medical student loans – 5/13/2025

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR joins letter thanking Congressional champions for reintroducing the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act to allow borrowers to qualify for interest free deferment of loans while in residency programs – 3/27/2025

Congress Medical Workforce – ACR joins letter thanking Congressional champions for reintroducing the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (identical letter sent to both chambers) – 3/26/2025

Congress: Medical Workforce – ACR coalition endorses the Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Reauthorization Act supporting occupational wellbeing – 3/18/2025

Research Funding

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins coalition calling for full funding of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program within the Defense Appropriations Act – 11/18/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins coalition letter requesting $47.2 billion for the NIH as passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee – 10/27/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins Arthritis Foundation requesting $11 Billion for the CDC Arthritis Program in FY26 Appropriations (identical letter sent to both chambers) – 8/8/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR coalition calls for FY 26 funding increase for the CDMRP while restoring FY25 program cuts (identical letter sent to the Senate) – 5/19/2025

US House: Medical Research – ACR NIAMS Coalition requests $747 million funding increase for NIAMS in FY 26 Labor-HHS appropriations bill – 5/8/2025

HHS: Medical Research – ACR writes in support of the National Institute of Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), its role in chronic disease research, and express concern should NIAMS be consolidated into another division – 5/5/2025

HHS: Medical Research - ACR and Lupus Foundation of America write joint letter urging the preservation of CDC & OMF Lupus programming in agency reorganization - 4/30/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins coalition recommending $51 billion for the NIH in FY 2026 and reaffirms agency support – 4/7/2025

NIH: Medical Funding – ACR leadership joins multispecialty coalition calling for the NIH to rescind 15% Cap to Facilities and Administrative Reimbursement – 3/5/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR coalition reaffirms AHRQ support in the 119th Congress – 3/3/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR joins coalition requesting a $1.77B funding increase for the NIH, and preventing changes to the NIH facilities and administrative cost reimbursements – 2/20/2025

Congress: Medical Research – ACR coalition reaffirms NIH support in the 119th Congress – 1/31/2025

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Letters to Policy Makers | American College of Rheumatology