Would you like to get more involved? Share your stories to help us fight for change, participate in unique "elevated" experiences with AiArthritis - like writing public comment letters WITH US, joining webinar watch parties, going virtually with us on Field Trips (behind the scenes when we attend policy-related conferences, or become one of the first AiAdvocates in our public policy leadership program!
Knowledge = Empowerment is a virtual, multi-level, patient-led classroom designed to teach our peers and their caregivers about important issues that may be impacting their access to treatments... AND, for those who have experienced issues accessing their treatments and want to share their stories to impact change, we (patients) can connect them to opportunities to do it!
Topics we cover are based on our 2024 Advocacy (Public Policy) priorities.
Patient led informative videos put complex subject matter into easily understandable form. Learn what Step Therapy, Accumulator, Precision Medicine, and Value Assessments are, hear examples of each, better understand why you should care, and hear from fellow patients how YOUR story can help make a difference!
Led by patients with class speakers as our guests, learn the basics about some important issues that impact access to treatments. Lead instructor, Tiffany, is also our CEO, person living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), and a former award-winning (Favorite Teacher) college instructor. Class discussion leaders are people with our diseases, too.
The following classes were held in 2023 - more topics coming in 2024...stay tuned!
We recommend downloading this while
watching the webinars
01
Step Therapy
Most have experienced this health insurance protocol that requires us to fail a cheaper drug before being allowed to access the one prescribed by our doctor. Learn more about this issue & what you can do if it happens to you.
02
Accumulators/Maximizers
When insurance plans exclude support from patient assistance programs from counting towards their deductible and maximum out-of-pocket costs, so help runs out mid-year. This, and related issues, can impact access to treatments.
Precision Medicine
Precision Medicine can expedite diagnosis, identify the treatment that will work best for you, & more. But access to biomarker testing is often limited to cancer. Learn how you can help improve our access!
Value Assessments
Controversial drug assessments that determine if a new therapies value is worth the cost. Patient involvement in research & the assessment process can help ensure drugs certain patient subgroups need remain accessible.
Part of our mission at AiArthritis involves a "Global Network" philosophy. This means as we identify patient-reported problems to address (in this case legislative issues that can impact affordability and access to treatments), we first look around to see who else has created resources to address the same problems. Then we reach out to them and ask if we can reference their resources, sharing them with our community so the best materials are available. This also helps use our funds to the fullest, as we do not use any money duplicating efforts.
Thank you to our Library Collaborators!
Arthritis Foundation (USA)
Global Healthy Living Foundation/CreakyJoints
National Psoriasis Foundation
American Cancer Society/Cancer Action Network
Partnership to Improve Patient-Centeredness (PIPC)
National Pharmaceutical Council
Innovation Value Initiative
Thank you to our program sponsors:
International Foundation for AiArthritis
6605 Nottingham Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63109-2661
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Information on this site is intended for informational purposes only Our foundation does not engage in the practice of medicine. Please consult a physician to obtain personal healthcare and treatment options. 501(c) 3 Nonprofit Tax ID: 27-1214308.