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

Duration & Treatment of Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Immunotherapy-Induced Arthritis

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

A new case series outlines the treatment and duration of symptoms of 10 patients experiencing the musculoskeletal manifestations of immune-related adverse events. Researchers found these symptoms may last for more than a year, but can generally be treated with low to moderate doses of corticosteroids…

History of Depression Is a Risk Factor for SLE in Women

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Results from a 20-year, cohort study add to the evidence that depression increases the risk of developing an autoimmune disease, specifically SLE in women. Lead investigator Andrea Roberts, PhD, says, “There may be direct biological effects of depression that increase the risk of autoimmune disease.”…

Upadacitinib at the FDA

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Upadacitinib is an investigational, oral, small molecule JAK1-selective inhibitor, which recently completed phase 3 clinical trials for treating patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In late 2018, AbbVie Inc. submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency,…

U.S. House Democrats Introduce Sweeping Medicare for All Bill

Yasmeen Abutaleb  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled an ambitious proposal to move all Americans into the government’s Medicare health insurance program, tapping into public frustration over the rising cost of healthcare that has become a key issue for the party as it seeks to gain control of Congress and the White House in…

U.S. Senators Tell Drug Company Execs Pricing Is Morally Repugnant

Yasmeen Abutaleb & Michael Erman  |  

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters)—U.S. Senators called drug pricing practices “morally repugnant” and told drug company executives they do not want to hear them blame others for the high prices, taking an aggressive stance at the start of a Senate hearing on the rising costs of prescription medicines. Executives from Abbvie Inc., AstraZeneca PLC., Sanofi SA, Pfizer…

Mortality Trends in Lupus Nephritis

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According to results of a recent study of all-cause and cause-specific mortality trends of end-stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis from 1995 to 2014, the all-cause premature mortality rate improved among white, African American and Hispanic patients, with reduced risk of death from CVD and infection. Jorge et al. observed a 32% reduction in mortality. This improved survival may be explained by a combination of improvements in the management of ESRD and of underlying SLE…

AMA RUC Survey of New Evaluation & Management Visit Codes: Your Expertise Required

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In the next few weeks, you may be selected to participate in an AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) survey for physician office visits (99202-99205, 99211-99215) and a new prolonged services code (99XXX). As you may know, the components of the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule are physician work, practice expense and professional liability insurance. This…