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U.S. Senate Mulls Bare-Bones Healthcare Bill; Marathon of Voting Expected

Yasmeen Abutaleb and Susan Cornwell  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. Senate Republicans embarked on Thursday on another push to unravel Obamacare, working on a stripped-down bill after failing to pass broader legislation and complete a seven-year campaign to gut a law that extended health coverage to millions. Republicans leaders hope a so-called skinny bill can draw enough votes to pass despite unified Democratic…

U.S. Senator Expands Opioid Probe to Distributors, Drugmakers

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—U.S. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill on Thursday expanded an investigation into the causes of the opioid crisis plaguing the country, seeking information from four more drugmakers and three drug distributors. The top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is focusing on the distribution of opioids and the efforts companies made to…

U.S. Senate Rejects Obamacare Repeal Again, Eyes a ‘Skinny’ Bill

Susan Cornwell and Yasmeen Abutaleb  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Republicans in the U.S. Senate fell short again on Wednesday in their effort to end Obamacare, rejecting a measure to repeal large portions of President Barack Obama’s signature law that has provided health insurance to millions of Americans. But Republican Senate leaders, struggling to keep a seven-year-old promise to unravel the law, already were…

Anthem May Exit More Individual Markets over Obamacare Funding

Caroline Humer  |  

(Reuters)—Anthem Inc. said it may leave more individual Obamacare markets due to uncertainty about the potential repeal of the healthcare law and subsidies that make the plans affordable for millions of Americans. Republicans on Tuesday began a second day of debate on the U.S. Senate floor of a bill that would end Obamacare, but the…

Obamacare Repeal Battle Back on Senate Floor

Richard Cowan  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—After a months-long struggle, Republicans have succeeded in bringing Obamacare repeal legislation, a centerpiece of their 2016 election campaigns, to a debate on the U.S. Senate floor. Now the hard part begins. Republicans, deeply divided over the proper role of the government in helping low-income people receive healthcare, eked out a procedural win on…

McCain to Return for Pivotal U.S. Senate vote on Healthcare

James Oliphant  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) will return to the U.S. capitol on Tuesday to play what could be a crucial role in salvaging Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare and keep their years-long pledge to unwind the 2010 healthcare overhaul. McCain, who is battling brain cancer, is set to help decide whether the repeal push will…

Republicans’ Push to Roll Back Obamacare Faces Crucial test

Ayesha Rascoe & Amanda Becker  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—President Donald Trump pleaded with U.S. Senate Republicans on Monday to “do the right thing” on healthcare and allow debate to begin on a measure to repeal and replace Obamacare. The Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to begin debating a healthcare overhaul, although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has…

Collaborative Guideline Addresses the Perioperative Use of Antirheumatic Drug Therapy

  |  

A new guideline developed by the ACR and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons addresses the perioperative use of antirheumatic drug therapy. Specifically, it provides recommendations on the use of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologic agents, tofacitinib and glucocorticoids in adults with RA; SpA, including ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis; JIA; or SLE undergoing elective THA or TKA. The guideline provides recommendations regarding when to continue, when to withhold and when to restart these medications, and the optimal perioperative dosing of glucocorticoids…

Progress Made During HOD Annual Meeting

Gary L. Bryant, MD, FACR, FACP  |  

The AMA House of Delegates (HOD) met in Chicago for its annual meeting June 9–14. More than 530 HOD members were present, with several hundred AMA and association staff and guests. As I am sure you have noted from past issues of ACR@Work, the ACR is in its five-year membership review. The ACR must be…

The Important Role of the AMA RVS Update Committee in Medicare Payments

Timothy J. Laing, MD  |  

Believe it or not, change begins with one person willing to lead by example—and you can be that person. All too often, we get caught up with the changes we want. However, instead of talking about what we would like, it’s time to lead. The best way to do this is to show others you’re…