The CMC is responsible for setting the communication agenda for the ACR and making decisions about the most effective venue(s) for communications with members. The choice of topics for Hotline will be the decision of the editors with the approval of the CMC chair. Topics related to drug or device safety, FDA approval, or new therapeutics will also be referred to the Drug Safety Committee (DSC) or its representative for their input during the planning and writing process with a 48-hour turnaround for DSC review and input.

Hotlines will be initially reviewed by the CMC (and the DSC if the topic is relevant to a therapeutic agent) with a 48-hour turn around and will then be forwarded to the Executive Committee (EC) for approval.

Disagreements about the information or summary statements contained in Hotline will be mediated by the chair of the CMC. If the CMC chair is unable to resolve the disagreement in a manner acceptable to the editors and/or authors, the issue will be referred to the Executive Committee. If the resolution reached by the EC is unacceptable to the authors or editors, they have the option to remove their name from the Hotline and it will be published as a communication from the CMC.

The chair of the CMC will work with the EC, the DSC, the ACR e-newsletter editor, and the editors of Arthritis Care & Research and Arthritis & Rheumatology to coordinate with other forms of communications such as editorials, more in-depth reviews, commentaries, debates, and communications from the ACR president and leadership.

Choice of Hotline editors: Hotline editors will be chosen by the chair of the CMC with two-year staggered terms and the option of reappointment for a second term.

Conflicts of interest: Attention must be given to minimize conflicts of interest as well as the appearance of conflicts of interest. Authors and editors will provide disclosures regarding such conflicts and the editors will attempt to find authors and/or reviewers/editors with no conflicts of interests. All Hotlines will be reviewed by the editors and possibly by guest editors for balance of the presentation.