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

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

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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…

Anti-CarP May Play Special Role in RA-Associated Mortality

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Researchers may have established a relationship between a new RA autoantibody, anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies, and increased mortality risk. The recent study showed that anti-CarP was the only autoantibody associated with mortality, specifically respiratory system cause of death…

ATAP Holds Inaugural In-Person Meeting

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The ACR recently announced the launch of the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a coalition of provider and patient groups concerned about the role pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play in driving up drug costs. The inaugural ATAP in-person meeting wrapped up on July 19 in Washington, D.C. The Alliance currently consists of the…

How to Fuel Engaged Patient Dialogue

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“Too often, a patient may feel too intimidated to ask a question,” says Ara Dikranian, MD. Here are considerations and communication techniques rheumatologists can use to encourage greater patient understanding and engagement…

Soccer, Wrestling among Sports Tied to Risk of Knee Arthritis

Will Boggs MD  |  

(Reuters Health)—Participation in some sports, including soccer, wrestling and elite-level long-distance running, may increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis, researchers say. “While the typical athlete is not at a greater risk of knee osteoarthritis, it was interesting to see that certain athletes may be more likely to have knee osteoarthritis later in life, specifically, elite…