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

Letter: Of Coding and Perception

Paul Waytz, MD  |  

Regarding the February “Coding Corner,” although I know that the upcoding was legitimized by the time spent (30 minutes), I have some philosophical concerns, especially because our business manager stresses that coding based on time can be a delicate issue.

CMS Delays ICD-10 Compliance Date

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Despite months of assurances to the contrary, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced in mid-February they were indefinitely postponing implementation of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. The changeover was originally scheduled to take effect October 1, 2013.

The Mystery of IVIg

Eveline Wu, MD, Michael M. Frank, MD  |  

Although initially given as replacement therapy for patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency states, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has proven to be effective in the treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. This success has led to a dramatic increase in the use of IVIg, with its use as an antiinflammatory agent now vastly surpassing its use in the treatment of immunodeficiencies. Even so, the basis for the antiinflammatory activity of IVIg remains unclear.

Biosimilar Drugs Face Challenges to Reach the U.S. Market

Kathleen Louden  |  

To date, the FDA has not approved a biosimilar product. In its own discussion of the merits and obstacles to biosimilar drugs, the ACR sponsored a panel session titled, “Biosimilar Products in the U.S. Market: Fact or Fiction?” at the 2011 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting here in November.

Maintenance of Certification Is Not Just for the Young

James R. O’Dell, MD  |  

I certainly am relieved to know that I will never need to recertify with the American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification, but this feeling is shadowed by a deep sense of shame. I decided to step up and take advantage of all the wonderful recertification programs the ACR has to offer.

Pain is a Tricky Thing to Treat, or Even Evaluate

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Rheumatology is such a gratifying and emotionally rewarding medical specialty. There is no better feeling than helping patients with conditions whose proper diagnosis and management have eluded other practitioners. A patient with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) presents with pain, and a major clinical tenet of DISH has been its lack of association with pain.

Gout – Rheumatology’s Royal Pain

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Gout is a common rheumatic disease often characterized by swelling, redness, and intense pain in the big toe. Once thought to be an exclusive disease of the wealthy who overindulged in food and spirits, gout has become a royal pain for millions of Americans.

Patient Fact Sheet – Gout

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Gout is a painful and potentially disabling form of arthritis that has been recognized since ancient times. Treatments are available to control most cases of gout, but diagnosing this disorder can be difficult, and treatment plans often have to be tailored for each person.