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

Coding Corner Question: Interprofessional Consultations

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A 68-year-old patient reports that her eyes have been itchy and red for approximately one month. She was treated with erythromycin gel on Jan. 10; while the itching did not stop, the redness resolved. She denies any matting and has not used any other type of eye drops. She states there has been no change…

4 Steps to Prevent Unnecessary Claims Denials

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Denied claims represent unpaid services, or lost or delayed revenue. Avoiding claims denials is the responsibility of everyone in a practice. Any deficiency on a focused strategy for denials management will have unfavorable resolutions to denials or lead to writing off the service without payment. With the changing landscape in practice management, the best route…

The Training Rheum Helps Practices Quickly Onboard NPs & PAs

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Has your practice recently hired a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician’s assistant (PA) to help provide care to a growing patient population? Are you considering hiring, but unsure if you have the time or resources to adequately train someone new to the specialty? The Training Rheum is designed to give your professional staff a solid…

The ACR & ARP Fight Step Therapy on Capitol Hill

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Step therapy (or fail first) policies introduce significant barriers to access to effective treatments for patients with rheumatic diseases. They also impose significant administrative and cost burdens on providers and practices. The ACR and ARP are advocating state governments, Congress and regulatory agencies limit the impact of these policies on access to care by creating…

The Rheumatology Research Foundation Announces Award Recipients

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On July 1, 2019, the Foundation awarded more than 80 grants to a wide range of rheumatology trainees, professionals and institutions. The recipients will receive funding for essential training and career development, as well as for innovative research projects. Their applications were closely examined by experts in different areas of the field to ensure awards…

Ethics Forum: Beware Your Intellectual Conflicts of Interest

Evan Mulvihill, MD, MPH  |  

A senior rheumatologist with extensive experience in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus is asked to help draft clinical guidelines for the treatment of lupus nephritis. Neither she nor her family members receive grant funding nor does she consult with any pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. She does have strong clinical opinions based on current evidence…

Florida Physician Launches Online Group for Women Rheumatologists

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When Reshma Khan, MD, a rheumatologist at the Family Arthritis Center, Jupiter, Fla., relocated from Michigan three-and-a-half years ago, she missed the camaraderie and friendships she’d made in Michigan. “I’m a very social person, and after finishing my research, residency and fellowship in Michigan, I missed those close friendships [when I moved to Florida],” Dr….

Addiction Therapy Is Underprescribed but May Benefit Medical Adherence

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CHICAGO—Although medical treatments for addiction have been proved effective, they are not used often enough, said Kenneth Stoller, MD, during a session at the 2019 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, held April 5–7. These treatments bring health benefits that extend beyond addiction, he said. Dr. Stoller, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins…

In Wake of Lupus Trial Failure, New Research Attacks From Many Angles

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CHICAGO—When Richard Furie, MD, was first asked to speak about lupus at the 2019 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, held April 5–7, organizers suggested he discuss low disease activity and classification criteria. But Dr. Furie, a professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, N.Y., and a veteran investigator…

Risk Assessment & Treatment in Antiphospholipid Syndrome Patients

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CHICAGO—Choosing a treatment for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) involves an array of factors, from the antibodies present to their titers to other risk factors, said Lisa Sammaritano, MD, during a guided tour of APS treatment at the 2019 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, held April 5–7. Dr. Sammaritano, associate attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery,…