American Rheumatology

What American Rheumatology does

American Rheumatology Network (ARN) is a group purchasing organization (GPO) serving independent rheumatology practices in the United States. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the network aggregates more than 650 providers across 35 states to secure pharmaceutical and supply pricing typically available only to hospital systems or large group practices. Membership is free; revenue is generated through GPO administrative fees on member purchases and through revenue cycle management services layered on top of the purchasing relationship.

The company operates a partnership-driven platform rather than a single internally built product suite. Named partners include AbbVie, GSK, and J&J on the manufacturer side, and SamaCare (prior authorization), Augmedix (ambient clinical documentation), Calvient (operations), Galvanic Health (analytics), and Trio Health (patient registry and clinical research) on the technology and data side. Through Trio Health, ARN maintains a patient registry of more than 369,000 patients, which underpins both the Patient Voice Database (launched 2020) and the sponsored-research arm ARN Clinical Research (launched 2021).

The go-to-market is membership-led and bottom-up: independent practices join at no cost, adopt the negotiated purchasing terms and integrated technology stack, and the network monetizes through transaction-level fees and optional RCM services. The combination of a free acquisition model, manufacturer relationships, and a layered tech ecosystem is designed to give small rheumatology practices the operational and economic scale of a national group without requiring them to consolidate ownership.

Name

American Rheumatology

Legal name

American Rheumatology Network, LLC

Website

https://americanrheum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Rheumatology Network is a free-membership GPO for independent U.S. rheumatology practices, aggregating 650+ providers across 35 states to negotiate drug pricing and deliver revenue cycle management, prior authorization, ambient documentation, and clinical research services through partner integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rheumatology Practice Support Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospital Shared Services, GPOs & System Support Organizations (HLAFAAAO)

Keywords

• Group purchasing organization
• Revenue cycle management
• Rheumatology practice services
• Pharmaceutical contract negotiation
• Healthcare network services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) Fees: ARN generates revenue by leveraging the collective purchasing power of its member practices to negotiate differentiated contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers. Member practices benefit from discounted drug purchasing and access to exclusive contracts.
2. Revenue Cycle Management Services: Customizable RCM services offered to both GPO members and non-members, including charge entry, cash application, accounts receivable management, copay assistance, and benefit verification/prior authorization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

American Rheumatology Network (ARN) operates a group purchasing organization (GPO) serving independent rheumatology practices, negotiating pharmaceutical contracts and aggregating buying power across more than 650 providers in 35 states. The organization also delivers back-office services including revenue cycle management (RCM), benefit verification, prior authorization support, and practice performance analytics for its member practices.

Product overview

American Rheumatology (American Rheumatology Network/ARN) is a group purchasing organization (GPO) dedicated to supporting independent, community-based rheumatology practices. The core offering is the ARN Network, which provides access to best business practices, differentiated pharmaceutical contracts, and value-based treatment pathways. The portfolio includes: a comprehensive Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Solution covering charge entry, cash application, accounts receivable, copay assistance, and benefit verification/prior authorization; Practice Performance Technology powered by Trio Health with Provider Dashboards and on-demand analytics; and strategic partner solutions including PX Connect by CareMetx (specialty medication workflows), SamaCare (prior authorization), Augmedix (AI-powered medical documentation via ambient speech recognition and NLP), Galvanic Health (analytics and consulting), Rheumera (remote therapeutic monitoring), Calvient (AI operations platform), and TheraTest (diagnostics). Together these offerings help independent practices maintain independence while streamlining operations and improving patient outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARN Network (Group Purchasing Organization Membership) Free membership GPO that aggregates 650+ independent rheumatology providers across 35 states to negotiate favorable pharmaceutical contracts and pricing with manufacturers and distributors on behalf of member practices.
• Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Solution

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% annual provider growth rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and support.

• Galvanic HealthcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 January 2026Strategic partnership to provide ARN member practices with Galvanic Health's Physician Practice Insights platform, delivering actionable clinical and operational insights through user-friendly dashboards. Enhances ARN's analytics capabilities with data analytics and strategic operational support focused on improving practice performance, financial outcomes, and long-term sustainability.
• SamaCarecoreTechnology or Integration · 25 January 2023Partnership to scale SamaCare's free prior authorization platform to ARN's national network of 460+ community-based providers. SamaCare's cloud-based platform helps streamline administrative processes for buy-and-bill medications across all payers. Articularis Health Group saw 50% reduction in staff time spent on prior authorizations and 56% reduction in payer turnaround time.
• AugmedixcoreTechnology or Integration · 13 December 2021Partnership to scale Augmedix's Ambient Automation Platform to community rheumatology practices across the nation. Platform converts natural physician-patient conversations into comprehensive medical notes using speech recognition and NLP, allowing physicians to focus on patient care.
• Arthritis FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2021Collaboration to collectively respond to patient voice through Arthritis Foundation's Live Yes! INSIGHTS study combined with Trio-ARN clinical insights from 370,000+ rheumatology patients. Aims to develop tools improving physician-patient interaction and enhancing clinical outcomes.
• Trio HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2021Launched ARN Clinical Research, combining ARN network with Trio's MDX platform for real-time integrated clinical trial support. Partnership enables rapid patient identification, clinical feasibility, and regulatory-grade data management. Database encompasses 100% of ARN sites with full EMR access.
• Trio Health (Patient Voice Database)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2020Launch of first-ever Patient Voice database in rheumatology, incorporating patient voice in access programs, clinical development, and care management. Database growing by 1,200+ discontinued therapy orders daily with qualitative switch/reason codes.
• American Medical Association (AMA)supportGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 August 2020Group membership sponsorship providing ARN physicians access to AMA benefits including 1,000+ CME courses, JAMA Network, STEPS Forward training, Member Interest Groups, and exclusive discounts.
• Framework Management Information, Inc.strategicTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2020Partnership to develop AXCESS1 prescription access hub, a one-stop shop for prior authorization status, patient assistance programs, and medication dispensing. Solves fragmentation by interfacing with practices, specialty pharmacies, and manufacturers.
• CareMetx (PX Connect)coreTechnology or IntegrationPX Connect solution simplifies specialty medication workflows, reduces administrative burden, and improves patient outcomes. Provides seamless EMR integrations, prior authorization status tracking, and centralized portal for rheumatology practices managing complex chronic conditions.
• TheraTestsupportTechnology or IntegrationDiagnostic solutions provider offering state-of-the-art diagnostic and disease monitoring profiles to improve patient outcomes and practice viability.
• CalvientsupportTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered operations platform for community-based practices reducing busywork. Streamlines prior authorizations, benefits investigations, records releases, communications, fax management, eligibility, patient engagement, and intake.
• RheumerasupportTechnology or IntegrationFDA-designated Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) solution tailored for rheumatology practices. Patients track symptoms via app; physicians monitor therapeutic responses and provide proactive intervention.
• eSourcessupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConcierge HR services provider with 25+ years experience in personalized human resource solutions, serving physician practices and healthcare organizations with tailored HR/business strategies.
• Sunrise RCMcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTrusted RCM partner with over 100 years combined experience on management team. Helps sophisticated practices increase bottom line through monthly reporting detecting cycle leakage, improving coding compliance and clinic workflow.
• AbbViestrategicOthersPlatinum industry partner committed to discovering and delivering innovative medicines that address serious health issues.
• Organon (Biosimilars)strategicOthersPlatinum industry partner focused on providing customer experience prioritizing goals throughout the biosimilar experience.
• GSKstrategicOthersDiamond industry partner - science-led global healthcare company dedicated to helping people through innovative pharmaceutical, biological, vaccine, and consumer healthcare products.
• Johnson & JohnsonstrategicOthersDiamond industry partner building world where complex diseases are prevented, treated and cured with smarter, less invasive treatments.
• AstraZenecasupportOthersGold industry partner dedicated to transforming future of healthcare through science.
• Boehringer IngelheimsupportOthersGold industry partner dedicated to discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative healthcare products.
• Bristol Myers SquibbsupportOthersGold industry partner focused on discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines for serious diseases in oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular, fibrosis and neuroscience.
• NovartissupportOthersGold industry partner reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives.
• PfizersupportOthersGold industry partner applying science and global resources to bring therapies extending and improving lives.
• SanofisupportOthersGold industry partner driven by purpose to chase miracles of science to improve people's lives.
• UCBsupportOthersGold industry partner committed to innovation to improve lives of people with neurological and immunological diseases.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• McKesson Corporation: McKesson operates US Oncology Network and ClarusONE, providing specialty drug distribution and GPO services that overlap with ARN's pharmaceutical contracting focus. As a vertically integrated healthcare services giant, McKesson represents both a potential partner and a competitive threat to specialty GPOs.
• Vizient: Vizient is a major healthcare performance improvement company offering GPO services, analytics, and consulting to hospitals and healthcare providers. It is comparable to ARN as a competing GPO model, though Vizient serves a much broader customer base and offers deeper enterprise-level services.
• Premier Inc. Premier is one of the largest healthcare GPOs in the U.S., serving hospitals, health systems, and ambulatory providers. While significantly broader and larger than ARN, Premier offers comparable GPO contracting and supply chain services and represents the incumbent model that specialty GPOs like ARN disrupt by offering more tailored service.

Direct peers

• TSI Healthcare: TSI Healthcare is a specialty-focused EHR and practice management vendor serving rheumatology, pulmonology, and other specialty practices. It is comparable to ARN as a rheumatology-specialized technology partner, and ARN's COO previously worked at TSI Healthcare, indicating direct competitive overlap.
• CoverMyMeds: CoverMyMeds (now part of McKesson) is a leading prior authorization automation platform serving providers, pharmacies, and payers. ARN partners with SamaCare (not CoverMyMeds directly), but CoverMyMeds is comparable as a technology platform that addresses similar workflow challenges for rheumatology practices.
• Sonexus Health (Cardinal Health): Sonexus Health is Cardinal Health's hub services platform supporting patient access, benefits investigation, and prior authorization for specialty medications. It is comparable to ARN's prior authorization, benefit verification, and copay assistance services for buy-and-bill medications.
• Articularis Health Group: Articularis Health Group is the largest specialty rheumatology group in the U.S. with 23 partner practices and is both a major ARN member and a potential competitor as a large MSO. It is comparable as a rheumatology-focused practice aggregator that could either partner with or compete against ARN.
• ION Solutions: ION Solutions (part of AmerisourceBergen / Cencora) is a GPO and services organization serving urology, oncology, rheumatology, and other office-based specialty physician practices. It is directly comparable as a specialty-focused GPO competing for similar pharmaceutical contracts in rheumatology.
• United Rheumatology: United Rheumatology is a specialty-specific GPO and management services organization for independent rheumatology practices. It is the most directly comparable competitor to ARN, with a similar business model of aggregating independent rheumatologists to negotiate better rates with pharma manufacturers and provide operational support services.

Others

• Trio Health: Trio Health is ARN's primary data analytics and clinical research partner, powering the ARN-Trio registry and ARN Clinical Research platform. It is an enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, providing the MDX platform that underpins ARN's data advantage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-rheumatology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Rheumatology