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

Hip Exercises May Improve Walking, Pain with Knee Arthritis

Carolyn Crist  |  

(Reuters Health)—Patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) can add hip-strengthening exercises to their workout to improve the ability to walk and maybe reduce pain, according to a research review. Based on pooled data from eight clinical trials with a total of 340 patients, hip strengthening exercises involving weights or elastic bands would help the most, the…

Happiness in Rheumatology

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A 2019 report says rheumatologists are the happiest medical specialists outside of work. Simon Helfgott, MD, says this finding shows “we have been able to blend an interesting, intellectually stimulating profession and practice with the ability to help people.”..

Metabolic Profiling of SLE

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Research examining the metabolic profile of SLE found increased oxidative activity, as well as lower levels of tyrosine and tryptophan, in SLE patients relative to controls, suggesting increased activity of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. The results suggest metabolomics may have the ability to measure disease severity in SLE…

Coding Corner Question: Use Level 3 or 4 for RA/Gout Patient?

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A 60-year-old man returns for a follow-up related to his diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and chronic gout of his right ankle and foot, without tophi. He reports the gout flares have subsided in his ankle. He takes 450 mg of allopurinol daily. He has rheumatoid factor-positive rheumatoid arthritis, which previously affected multiple sites, without organ…

Coding Corner Answer: Use Level 3 or 4 for RA/Gout Patient?

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Take the challenge. CPT: 20611-LT, J7325-EJ ICD-10: M17.12, E66.01, Z68.41 CPT: 99213 ICD-10: M1a.0710, M05.79 History—The history of present illness was extended. The review of systems was extended, and two past family social history elements were documented. This makes the history level detailed. Examination—Five systems were examined. This makes the exam level detailed. Medical decision…

Reminder: MIPS Reporting Deadline Is April 2

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Don’t forget: The submission window for the Quality Payment Program Performance Year 2018 closes on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Submissions must be complete by 8:00 PM EDT. We encourage all MIPS-eligible clinicians to double-check their status and final scores with the CMS by logging into their EIDM account. Not sure how to review your final score?…

Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Lower Among Smokers Who Quit

Lisa Rapaport  |  

(Reuters Health)—Adults who quit smoking decades ago may have a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than people who gave up cigarettes more recently, a U.S. study suggests. Smoking has long been linked to an increased risk of RA, and quitting can reduce this risk. But the new study offers fresh evidence that years of…

Tainted Research Repeatedly Re-Used to Assess Drug Effectiveness

Gene Emery  |  

(Reuters Health)—A new study shows how fake news—specifically, information about scientific research that may be tainted by fraud—keeps getting spread through the medical literature, misleading doctors about the safety and effectiveness of the drugs they prescribe. At issue is the failure of medical journals to flag research that’s been identified by the U.S. Food and…