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

Obamacare Sign-Up Challenge: Proving the Law Is Not Dead

Yasmeen Abutaleb  |  

NOGALES, Arizona (Reuters)—More than two thousand miles away from the healthcare debate in Washington, President Donald Trump’s threats to let Obamacare collapse are sowing confusion about its fate and dampening 2018 enrollment expectations. The uncertainty here in Arizona, echoed in interviews across the country, shows that even though they have not been able to repeal…

Herpes Zoster & Tofacitinib

Arthritis & Rheumatology  |  

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster (HZ), is a common and sometimes debilitating disease that disproportionately affects elderly individuals and those who are immunocompromised. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a 1.5–2-fold higher risk of developing HZ compared with healthy adults. Treatment with some disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has been shown to increase this risk….

Adalimumab + Methotrexate Effective for Uveitis in JIA

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Research has found that taking adalimumab plus methotrexate is effective for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis. However, these patients may also experience an increased incidence of adverse and serious adverse events compared with those taking only methotrexate…

Washington State Sues OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma

Nate Raymond  |  

(Reuters)—Washington state on Thursday sued OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP, becoming the latest state or local government to file a lawsuit seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for a national opioid addiction epidemic. The city of Seattle also filed a separate lawsuit against Purdue as well as units of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Johnson and…

Makers of Fast-Acting Opioids Will Have to Pay for Training—FDA

Michael Erman  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Makers of fast-acting opioids will have to fund voluntary training for healthcare professionals who prescribe the drugs, including education on safe prescribing practices and non-opioid alternatives, the course  said on Thursday. The FDA sent letters to 74 manufacturers of immediate-release opioids, notifying them that they will have to fund the development of courses…

Help Pediatric Patients Overcome Pain & Anxiety

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Pediatric rheumatology patients present unique challenges. According to Kyla Driest, MD, MEd, using age and temperament appropriate methods, such as distraction or icing, may help children manage pain and ease anxiety…

As 2018 Obamacare Deadline Nears, U.S. States Believe Every County Covered

Caroline Humer  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—U.S. states have negotiated to the bitter end to keep health insurers selling Obamacare plans in every county next year, in some cases taking a hard-line to prevent exits that leave residents without access to health coverage. But states cannot rule out a last-minute pullout by an insurance company. Insurers must sign government…

From the Front Lines: Managing RA Comorbidities in Primary Care

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

How are comorbidities for RA patients managed outside of rheumatology? A recent Canadian study developed and assessed quality measures related to preventive care and screenings for RA patients in a primary care setting, comparing RA and non-RA patients. The results: Primary care physicians often provide similar levels of care to patients with and without RA. But RA patients were less likely to receive some cancer screenings and all necessary tests to assess their cardiovascular risk…