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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Cutaneous Lupus Tied to Risk for Coexisting Autoimmune Conditions

Marilynn Larkin  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) should be monitored closely for other autoimmune conditions, researchers suggest. Dr. Benjamin Chong, Dr. Linda Hynan and Elaine Kunzler of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas analyzed data from 129 adults in the UTSW Cutaneous Lupus Registry (mean age, 49; 79% women). Individuals…

Existing CT Scans as Good as DXA for Assessing Hip Fracture Risk

Scott Baltic  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A “biomechanical” analysis of a previously taken pelvic or abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan is at least as accurate in assessing an individual’s hip fracture risk as a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, according to new research. This accuracy of the hip bone mineral density (BMD) T-score as measured by the biomechanical…

Gut Microbiota Directly Affects Inflammatory Arthritis

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Gut microbiota may provide insight into important environmental triggers for autoimmune diseases. New research in mice indicates that intestinal dysbiosis triggers a mucosal immune response that stimulates T and B cells, which are critical to the development of inflammatory arthritis…

Diclofenac May Boost MI Risk in Patients with Spondyloarthritis

Marilynn Larkin  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is increased in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) who use the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac, but not in those who take naproxen, researchers say. Maureen Dubreuil, MD, MSc, of Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed 20 years of medical records from the U.K.’s Health Improvement…

Rheumatologists: Participate in the ABMS Certification Conversation

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The ACR continues to actively advocate for certification reform and recently testified to the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission. The Commission is leading a collaborative effort to assess the current state of continuing board certification, and to envision a framework that is relevant and meaningful to physicians, patients, hospitals and health systems….

RA Patients May Not Receive Needed Osteoporosis Screening & Treatment

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

New research examined the frequency of osteoporosis screening and treatment for RA patients from 2003–2014, including four years following the release of the 2010 ACR guideline on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The results: Approximately half of RA patients for whom treatment was indicated never received osteoporosis medication. Researchers also found that RA patients, despite their increased risk for developing osteoporosis, were not more likely to receive osteoporosis care than OA patients…

ACR/ARHP Heads to D.C. for Advocacy Leadership Conference

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ACR/ARHP leaders are once again heading to Washington, D.C., to advocate for legislation important to rheumatologists and their patients. On May 16–18, more than 100 representatives of the ACR Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Government Affairs Committee, RheumPAC, Committee on Rheumatologic Care, Insurance Subcommittee and Affiliate Society Council and others will talk to members of…

At the Table: ACR Meets with MedPAC

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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) makes recommendations to Congress on Medicare policy including physician payments and patient access issues. These recommendations can directly impact rheumatology care coverage and rheumatologist reimbursement. Representatives of the ACR and partners recently met with new MedPAC Executive Director James E. Mathews, PhD, to discuss appropriate recognition of rheumatology care…

CMS Releases 2018 MIPS Eligibility Tool

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You can now use the updated CMS MIPS Participation Lookup Tool to check on your 2018 eligibility for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Enter your National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the tool to find out whether you need to participate during the 2018 performance year. Changes to Low-Volume Threshold To reduce the burden on…