Rheumatologists should expect at least one more time-stamped extension to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula before Congress makes any lasting changes to it. At issue is the future of rheumatologists’ Medicare payments, including the federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) recommendation from last year to scrap the formula, reduce payments for specialist services by 5.9% for each of three years, and then freeze them for seven more years, and the 27.4% SGR cut that has been repeatedly delayed by extensions.
Epidemiologist Discusses Osteoarthritis Among Various Countries and Ethnic Groups
David T. Felson, MD, MPH, discusses his Beijing study that compared knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis among Chinese to Caucasians in the Framingham study and the UCSF Study of Osteoporotic Fractures.
Arthritis in Winter
Fewer daylight hours impact both RA and OA
Prevalence of Gout and Hyperuricemia Increase in U.S.
Causes include sedentary lifestyle, an increased frequency of obesity and hypertension, diuretic use, and alcohol intake
Congress Weighs Medicare Cuts Again
ACR volunteer leader testified against the cuts, and is optimistic that steep reimbursement declines will be avoided
Oral Contraceptives Show Benefits in Inflammatory Polyarthritis
Research shows beneficial outcome when used before or after system onset
Study Shows Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
Patients with RA 60% more likely to develop the heart condition
For Arthritis Patients, Good Support Can Be Hard to Find
Some patients receive more support from coworkers than from spouses
New Research Shows Chondroitin Sulphate Reduces Cartilage Volume Loss, Bone Marrow Lesions
However, conflicting data and small study size make it difficult to draw firm conclusions
Lupus Patients Have More Lethal Form of Kidney Disease
SLE patients with ESRD at increased risk of death