In response to agency requests for feedback on how to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burden on Medicare program stakeholders and small business owners, the ACR called for the removal of certain regulations related to prior authorization, pharmacy benefit managers and Medicare Part B and Part D access.
Inaugural Practice Innovation Summit Focuses on Building a Blueprint for Private Practice Success
Registration is now open for the first-ever Practice Innovation Summit, which will dive into operational and financial strategies to grow and sustain private and community-based practices.
Summer 2025’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in the World of Rheumatology
Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, Receives India’s Highest Honor for Overseas Indians In early January, Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, MACR, FACP, a rheumatologist at Rheumatology Associates in Dallas and past president of the ACR, was one of only three Indian-Americans to receive the 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA). The award is conferred every two years…
Incarcerated Individuals with Rheumatic Conditions
In addition to the impediments to consistent, high-quality care suffered by all incarcerated individuals, incarcerated patients with rheumatic disease face challenges specific to the treatment, management & monitoring of rheumatic conditions.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Your Post-Fellowship Career
A second-year fellow describes the process of searching for a post-fellowship job in rheumatology.
New Analysis Reveals More Potential Contributors To Takayasu Arteritis
Recent research led to development of a cumulative genetic risk score for Takayasu arteritis, identifying differing susceptibility between groups with different genetic ancestries.
Reactive Arthritis: Chronic or Self-Limiting?
Reactive arthritis has proved to be a diagnostic & therapeutic challenge due to its diverse presentations.
ACR Responds to Aetna Specialty Pharmacy Requirements
Aetna recently notified practices about the launch of its Combined Benefit Management Drug List, which will result in romosozumab-aqqg (Evenity) and infliximab (Remicade) moving to pharmacy-only coverage on July 1. The ACR is working to oppose this change.
Aetna Expands Evaluation & Management Downcoding Program
Aetna recently expanded its Claim and Code Review Program, which results in the downcoding of certain level 4 and 5 evaluation and management claims. Practices are advised to monitor remittance documents for appropriate reimbursement.
One Rheumatologist’s Sabbatical for Contemplative Leisure
The year before my hike, I was extremely busy with various ACR workforce issues; meetings; presentations, locally, regionally and nationally; juggling medical missions and more. However, I had blocked time in my calendar over one year in advance to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain with a long-time U.S. Army buddy. I met Pat…