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Supporting Rheumatologists, Strengthening Arthritis Care
A special contribution from the Arthritis Foundation
By Steven Taylor, MBA
President & CEO, Arthritis Foundation
The demand for rheumatology care continues to grow as the nation sees nearly 60 million adults and children in the U.S. with doctor-diagnosed arthritis — 1.7 million of whom live in Virginia. Not only are rheumatologists facing higher demands on their time, but there are also patients who find themselves on a slower or stalled path, going from symptoms to diagnosis.
When talking with rheumatologists, it is clear to me that time is a precious commodity for them to practice. It takes time to see existing patients; time to explain next steps to a newly diagnosed patient; time to speak with health insurance companies; and time to handle all the administrative demands. And this is just a sampling of demands that rheumatologists face every day.
That is one of the reasons the Arthritis Foundation created our complementary Partners for Patients, which provides rheumatologists with credible and informational resources to distribute to their patients — to help them better understand their form of arthritis. These resources include fact sheets on the six most common forms of arthritis, as well as a resource sheet that encourages patients to actively engage with the arthritis community. This includes our virtual and in-person educational programs and Connect Groups for life-changing support.
The Arthritis Foundation understands that the more a patient understands things before and between visits, the less that responsibility falls on the provider. Our programs and resources not only educate patients, but they also empower them to connect with others who are living with the same disease. That’s why Partners for Patients helps bridge that gap — and we hope all rheumatologists will take advantage of our free resources for their patients.
The Arthritis Foundation is further investing in the future of arthritis care and research by supporting over $14 million in research grants in 2026. These grants span our work in exploring rheumatoid arthritis to osteoarthritis to juvenile arthritis. In 2026, we will also be launching our first-ever research program in psoriatic arthritis. In addition, the Foundation has expanded our support for fellowship programs in pediatric and adult rheumatology, to help reduce the ongoing workforce shortage in rheumatology.
Funding arthritis research doesn’t replace taking care of patients today without policy changes. That’s why another pillar of our work extends to the floors of congressional buildings in Washington, DC, and to Virginia’s capital in Richmond, where we actively work to knock down barriers to care for arthritis patients. This includes lowering out-of-pocket costs, while also limiting the administrative hurdles of prior authorization and step therapy. In Virginia alone, we were able to enact step therapy protections under HB 2126, and co-pay accumulator protections under H2515.
I know that rheumatologists don’t need another organization telling them or their patients that arthritis is a serious, urgent medical matter. You already know that. But I hope you will join us by becoming a Partner for Patients, being part of our advocacy efforts. Or getting involved locally with the Arthritis Foundation. Your voice is critical in all we do. Because you are the first line of defense for our patient population.
On behalf of the 1.7 million arthritis patients in Virginia, thank you for all you do.
For information about how to be involved with the Arthritis Foundation in Virginia, please contact Executive Director, Juliane Kilcoyne. jkilcoyne@arthritis.org
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