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ORA Reporter

ORA Takes Aggressive Stance on New Treatments


Dr Fohrman further outlined the details of the new “Biologic Treatment” policies. He also pointed out that the entire policy will be available on our website, (Position Statements), and is being mailed to all of the insurance companies in the Pacific Northwest and those ORA members who could not attend the Crater Lake meeting. “Rheumatologists represent the vast majority of prescribers of these medications and are uniquely qualified by their training and experience in regard to the use of these medications. Because we have the responsibility for the patient, we must be free to select the appropriate medication. Insurance company formularies and ‘preferred’ medication restrictions can’t take into account the complexity and the unique specificity of the individual patient.”

ORA has been called to the table to discuss medication policies at several insurance companies and it is hoped that the formal policy statements will clarify this new and complex area of rheumatic care for those who are non rheumatologists. Educating the other participants in the health care industry is one of ORA’s main objectives. “Cost is an important factor in delivering good medical care but many different cost factors must be considered,” Dr Fohrman added. “Medication cost is only part of the equation. The cost of work loss and disability and the savings gained by prevention of structural damage are all issues that need to be considered."

Third Annual Crater lake Meeting Presents!

Bringing his extensive knowledge on cytokine research, Dr Charles Dinarello of the University of Colorado School of Medicine presented at ORA’s Third Annual Crater Lake Meeting in September. After training at Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts General and NIH, Dr Dinarello began publishing his research on Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. From his beginnings in leukocytic pyrogen in immunology to his thorough experience with Interleukin-1 synergy with TNF-a in inflammation, he has published over 450 original research articles and 200 reviews and book chapters, naming him (according to the Institute for Scientific Information) the world’s 3rd most cited life scientist (1981-1994).

He received the Ernst Jung Prize in medicine in 1993 for his contribution to the field of infectious disease and cytokines and donated the entire prize money of $125,000 to universities and research institutes in the US and Israel. Dr Dinarello has served on the AIDS Program Advisory Council of the NIH and has trained over 30 research investigators.

We also welcomed Dr Lou Bridges, Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Arthritis Center. He lectured on “Diagnosis and Treatment of Polyarteritis Nodosa” at Crater Lake. Dr Bridges, a basic science and clinical researcher, has just completed a co-editorship on a landmark Vasculitis text. The co-authored composition represents a state of the art guide to Vasculitis. In addition to his commitment to researching and publishing, Dr Bridges’ interests include autoimmuno genetics, B cell involvement in Rheumatic disease and, of course, Vasculitis.  

Nestled in the hollow shell of a shattered volcano, Crater Lake is one of the world’s natural wonders. Crater Lake was created when Mount Mazama, one of the Cascades’ volcanoes, erupted 7,700 years ago in a fiery explosion so powerful that it sent ash as far east as Nebraska. The erupted volcano collapsed in upon itself, leaving the caldera that now contains the lake. Magnificent 2,000 ft. rock walls surrounding the nearly 2,000 ft. deep lake (fed only by winter snowfall) allow only one footpath from the crest down to the waters edge. Presenting a photography slide show and lecture on the Crater Lake National park was Chuck Blakeslee, author of the park’s centennial celebratory book “Crater Lake– Wild and Beautiful.”

Also, Jim Burke, the director of Annual Campaigns of the Research and Education Foundation of the American College of Rheumatology gave a short luncheon presentation entitled “ACR R.E.F.; An Introduction.” According to the ACR website (www.rheumatology. org), the REF has undergone important changes to its mission and objectives in the past year. Mr Burke and Dr Tindall enlightened ORA on REF’s new goals and objectives to “attract and support the training and development of qualified physicians and other health care professionals, and to support research designed to investigate the causes, improve treatment, and work toward the prevention and cure of rheumatic diseases.” Minutes of this meeting are available to rheumatologists upon request.

 

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