Dear Colleagues:
Thank you for expressing your confidence in me by choosing me to be the President of the California Rheumatology Alliance. I want to thank Gary R. Feldman,MD and James A. Jenkins, PhD, MPH for all of their hard work in the last six years representing our interests and those of our patients in the state of California and through CSRO. The next three years will be even more of a challenge for us and our patients as in 2017, less than six months from now, new payment models will take effect. If our members do not follow the guidance in 2017 that will be published in August about MACRA, we will be penalized by Medicare and perhaps other payors. The CRA will be having webinars about this extremely important topic and if the members wish, a live seminar as well. Our patients will most likely be offered more narrow networks of providers and more restrictive formularies. The Medicare part B demonstration project that limited access to biologics in our offices still hangs over our heads. I ask that you take an active part in the CRA by advocating for our patients and our specialty; our board of directors cannot represent you without active involvement on your part.
Future newsletters will provide specifics on bills before the California legislature that can affect access to medications for our patients and the burden of prior authorizations.
Don’t miss your opportunity to join the CRA network and receive all the benefits that membership has to offer by applying to become a member of the CRA today!
Thank you again for your confidence. I look forward to working for and with all of you in the next three years to benefit our patients and our specialty.
Sincerely,
Robin K. Dore, MD
President
