Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month: Day of Action

Today, September 15, is CSRO’s Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month Day of Action and we are calling on you to join us in our advocacy work!

Since 2003, CSRO has been the rheumatology community’s primary resource when it comes to advocacy, and today we are calling on you to help advocate by raising awareness. 

The goal is simple: create awareness with state legislators about how rheumatology patients suffer because they are not protected from utilization management practices. Advocacy = Awareness – take action today using our easy two-step toolkit below.

Day of Action: Advocacy Toolkit

1. Invite legislators to visit your office: Hearing firsthand how these issues affect patients and practices is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness with your elected officials.

• Our Action Center will automatically select your state legislators based on your address and has a template message pre-populated so you can easily invite your elected officials to visit your office. 
• Email info@csro.info if you schedule a meeting, and we will provide you with talking points and information to share!

2. Spread the word on social media: Tell your networks that you are advocating to raise awareness and invite them to join you.

• Use our Day of Action image and template text below or draft a post of your own using #RDAMAwarenessIsAdvocacy.
• Don't forget to tag CSRO - find @CSROAdvocacy on Facebook and Twitter, and @Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) on LinkedIn.

Day of Action Social Image

Day of Action Social Post

Awareness = Advocacy. #Rheumatology patients suffer when they aren't protected from utilization management practices. Take action with me today in honor of #CSROAdvocay’s Day of Action – details at https://tinyurl.com/4h9byzyv #RDAM #RDAMAwarenessIsAdvocacy

Invite others in the rheumatology community to join you in raising awareness on this Day of Acton! Share this email with your networks by using the buttons below.

In formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CSRO urged CMS to thoughtfully implement a new complex care add-on code, improve the value for certain neuromuscular ultrasound services, and to ensure “virtual presence” policies did not result in patient harms. CSRO also expressed support of proposals to update the rheumatology-focused MIPS Value Pathway (MVP). 

Additionally, CSRO led a coalition of specialty and infusion providers in support of policy options that would address challenges practices are facing with “down coding” and Self-Administered Drug (SAD) list policies. Following discussions with senior staff and advisors, the groups presented policy options to address both issues based on feedback from the Agency.

CSRO has heard from practices that received unexpectedly low scores in the MIPS program and face a penalty in 2024, largely due to their performance on the Total Per Capita Cost (TPCC) measure in the Cost performance category. 

If your practice has been adversely impacted, please email info@csro.info and be prepared to share additional information about prior performance in the Cost performance category. CSRO is particularly interested in hearing from practices that have historically been successful in the program – and in the Cost category in particular – but now face a penalty.

What's Happening in the States

CSRO tracks legislative activity relevant to the rheumatology community and their patients. Check out the list below to see the status of CSRO priority bills from the past two weeks, and click here to view a full status report of CSRO priority bills.

Be sure to check out our interactive legislative map tool for additional details.

CALIFORNIA

Rebate Pass Through

• SB 873: Held in committee 

Action Center

Use CSRO's convenient online platform to easily find out who your elected officials are and engage with them directly.

Advocacy Council

Amplify your voice by assembling with other like-minded individuals to enhance CSRO’s advocacy initiatives.

Legislative Map Tool

Find your state on our interactive map tool to learn about current or proposed policy and ways you can take action to make an impact.

Rheum for Action

Learn about the latest advocacy issues in CSRO's advocacy column produced in partnership with Rheumatology News.

Payer Issues Reporting Form

Request assistance with any payer relation issues that may be impacting your patients or office.

Policy Correspondence

Easily access all of CSRO’s policy letters submitted to payers, state, and federal governments as an informational resource.

Step Therapy Cover Sheets

Review CSRO's state-specific step therapy materials that help guide practices in gaining an exemption from step therapy protocols.

CSRO is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has remained dedicated to ensuring access to the highest quality care since 2003 – donate today.

Questions?

Please visit the CSRO website for other news and updates, and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at info@csro.info.