In April, the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee voted to recommend a change in the add-on payment for Part B drugs, including reducing payment for more expensive drugs. The ACR sent a letter to MedPAC expressing concerns about the significant impacts such policies would have on rheumatologists.
The ACR responded to a Senate Health Committee request for information with legislative strategies to support healthcare providers and expand the physician and care team pipeline.
Starting in June, all prescribers registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency must complete a one-time, eight-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or substance use disorders.
The ACR is compiling a list of healthcare policy changes relevant to rheumatology providers and patients that will take effect when the public health emergency expires on May 11.
In a letter to Congress, the ACR, AMA and other groups urge legislation that would provide annual inflation-based Medicare payment updates based on the full Medicare Economic Index.
A qualified clinical data registry, RISE helps clinicians measure their performance on quality measures, identify ways to improve their patient care experience, navigate Medicare reporting and demonstrate the value of rheumatology to key influencers. Practices must join no later than June 30 to use RISE for 2023 Traditional MIPS or Advancing Rheumatology Patient Care MVP reporting.
The U.S. government remains divided. Democrats hold the White House and the Senate by one vote, and Republicans lead the House. Amid this division, the ACR is watching possible areas to advance healthcare legislation. Meet the committees and members with the largest jurisdiction over healthcare policy.
In a joint letter, the ACR urges Congress to undergo comprehensive reform of the Medicare payment system and seek long-term payment solutions that will allow clinicians to continue to care for Medicare patients.
The Food & Drug Administration announced Jan. 26 that tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) is no longer authorized for use in the U.S. The decision was based on new data suggesting that the treatment is unlikely to be active against the most common current SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The ACR has compiled guidelines and tips on how to use the JW modifier and correctly bill Medicare for discarded drugs and biologicals. This modifier can be applied only to unused amounts from a single-dose vial or package.