Lobby Days

Participating in lobby days gives members the opportunity to engage directly in legislative discussions that affect health care delivery in Virginia. Through these advocacy efforts, VSR members meet with their legislators to share perspectives from the field of rheumatology, with the goal of becoming trusted resources lawmakers can rely on when bills impacting rheumatology providers and patients are introduced.

VSR encourages all members to take part in lobby days to help maintain a consistent and informed presence during each General Assembly session. These advocacy days are an important way to ensure that the voices of rheumatology professionals are heard at the Capitol.

Why participate in a lobby day?
Legislators need to hear directly from their constituents who practice medicine and care for patients every day. Advocacy helps inform decisions on issues such as Medicaid payment rates, medical liability protections, and policies that affect the quality of patient care. By participating in lobby days, VSR members play an active role in shaping the policies that impact their practices and their patients—speaking up, staying involved, and making a difference.

2025 STATE ACTIVITIES

• Helped lead state activities to oppose legislative passage and support Governor Youngkin’s veto of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) in concert with other specialty and patient organizations
• Supported legislation on Step Therapy, Prior Authorization, Rebate Pass-Through 
• Worked with MSV on supporting Data Collection on Violence Against Healthcare Personnel, Health Insurance Carrier Fees, Expanding SafeHaven protections and opposing legislation on eliminating the Malpractice Cap
• Attended MSV and other General Assembly Advocacy Events
• Submitted op-eds on PDABs and 340B reform

2025 NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Actively work with CSRO & ACR on issues and have participated in virtual and physical Hill visits
• Working nationally to block or limit the activities or PDABs in concert with multiple organizations and coalitions
• Have cosigned multiple letters and participated in calls from CSRO, ACR and others on issues such as Underwater biosimilars, Downcoding, Medicare physician fee schedule, PBM reform, White bagging, Self-Administered Drug lists
• Actively participate in regular meetings of multiple national organizations and coalitions on issues of relevance to us and our patients