Video: Every Case Tells a Story| Webinar: ACR/CHEST ILD Guidelines in Practice

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

U.S. to Tell Doctors to Report Cases of COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome in Kids

Julie Steenhuysen  |  

CHICAGO (Reuters)—On May 13, U.S. health officials said they will issue an alert telling doctors to report cases of a rare life-threatening inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children to their state and local health departments. The alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be released on Wednesday or Thursday,…

Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 Fails Another Test

Gene Emery  |  

(Reuters)—The malaria treatment repeatedly championed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a game changer in the fight against the novel coronavirus has again failed to show a benefit in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a recent study. Although the study published in The New England Journal of Medicine had certain limitations, doctors report that…

Arthritis Drug Anakinra Shows Promise in COVID-19

Megan Brooks  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Treatment with the interleukin-1 blocker anakinra appears to improve respiratory symptoms and reduced signs of cytokine storm in nearly three-quarters of patients with acute respiratory distress and cytokine release syndrome from COVID-19 in a small retrospective study from Italy. “Our study is the first to suggest that a high dose of the…

The Value of Measuring Value

Allison Plitman  |  

In light of a new reporting framework that will be available in 2021, Lisa Suter, MD, describes the importance of quality measures for measuring value and improving patient care.

Rheumatology in a COVID & Post-COVID World

Christopher Phillips, MD  |  

Jane’s* hands and wrists had been swollen and painful for about eight weeks. Lab findings in the ambulatory consult that came to our office revealed a cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody count >250 u/mL. We all know where this story goes, including how important the early treatment window is. Our clinic reviews all consults and tries…

Capitol Hill Rheumatology Advocacy Goes Virtual

  |  

ACR volunteer leaders and staff will convene more than 100 meetings via teleconference with Congressional leaders on May 22, addressing rheumatology provider solvency and patient access to care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance: Its Genesis, Development & Goals

Philip C. Robinson, MBChB, PhD, FRACP  |  

Editor’s note: We are sad to announce that we have learned of the passing of Dr. Philip C. Robinson. We will share more as it becomes available, but in the meantime, we wanted to repost this article he wrote for The Rheumatologist early in the pandemic. Dr. Robinson also took the photo of the full-arc rainbow  below.

UnitedHealthCare Rescinds Planned Changes to Orencia Policy

  |  

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is rescinding changes to its Orencia policy previously scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2020. These changes would have required patients to fail to respond to the self-administered formulation of the drug prior to obtaining authorization for the physician-administered product. Some patients on Orencia received notices from UHC in late April stating…