ACR Applauds Recent Government Funding Save

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the recent passage of the Congressional CY 26 funding package that includes several important provisions, including extending Medicare telehealth payment flexibilities, improving transparency in pharmacy benefit management (PBM) practices, and advancing arthritis research.

“America’s doctors and their patients deserve stability – not uncertainty caused by the shutdown that jeopardizes care,” said William F. Harvey, MD, MSc, FACR, president of the ACR. “The extension of access to telemedicine, increased PBM oversight, and continued investment in arthritis research are all positive outcomes in this latest funding package. However, we will continue to advocate for reforms that ensure continuity of care and predictability for both providers and our nation’s growing Medicare population, which includes millions of Americans living with rheumatic disease.”

Telehealth has become an essential tool in rheumatology, particularly for patients in rural and underserved areas who face significant barriers to specialty care. Lapses in funding and confusion around payment availability put this vital service at risk. The ACR welcomes the two-year extension of Medicare telehealth payment flexibilities, as it ensures continuity of care and preserves access to high-quality rheumatology services.

Congress also voted to include greater oversight of PBMs, including reforms to ensure 100% of rebate savings are passed through to patients, an important step in “delinking” PBM income from negotiated drug prices. The budget also included funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enforce these new provisions and ensure lower payments are passed on to patients.

Once again, the ACR applauds the inclusion of $10 million in funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) specifically for arthritis research.

“Given that arthritis is the second leading cause of medical discharge from the U.S. Army, following only battlefield wounds, these funds will support CDMRP research aims to enhance military readiness by modifying training protocols and better preparing service members to complete their missions without incurring injuries,” said Colin Edgerton, MD, a member of the ACR Board of Directors and veteran. “Advances in disease understanding and treatment innovations that result from this funding will not only benefit our military, but also the estimated 54.4 million American adults—including veterans—living with arthritis.”

However, the ACR is deeply concerned about the drastic reduction in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Arthritis Program, which has been cut to only $2 million. The CDC Arthritis Program plays a vital role in public health by supporting education, prevention, and evidence-based interventions that help people manage their disease and remain active and productive. The ACR is concerned that this decrease in funding will limit the program’s impact to the detriment of the millions of Americans living with arthritis.

“We are grateful to lawmakers who championed PBM reform, telehealth extensions, and arthritis research funding,” Dr. Harvey concluded. “That said, the ACR will continue to advocate for sustained federal research funding for rheumatic diseases and looks forward to working with lawmakers to ensure that federal policy fully reflects the scale and severity of rheumatic disease in the United States.”