In 1969, Martha Lovato passed away from renal failure due to complications of lupus. Martha was 18 years old and survived only two years following her diagnosis. At the time, Martha’s disease was still a mystery to many physicians and researchers. Her treatment options were limited. In fall 2004, after an unprecedented battle with shingles…
At the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), volunteer leaders play an essential role in achieving the College’s goals in Advancing Rheumatology! This year, 64 new volunteers were appointed to serve on ACR Standing Committees. The College would like to extend a special thank you to these individuals who join other volunteer leaders in making a difference…
Wondering if you will be subject to 2017 payment penalties associated with the PQRS and the Value Modifier? Practices have until Nov. 30 to file for an informal data review.
We read the case report by Dr. Diana Girnita and colleagues (“Severe Refractory Gout: What options are left when pegloticase fails?” The Rheumatologist, August 2016) with interest. A case is reported of a subject with 20 years of chronic refractory gout who failed to respond to pegloticase therapy, and the potential roles of anti-drug antibodies or…
In any practice, the physician owner and/or administrators are in charge of overseeing the responsibilities associated with human resources management. This includes employment and labor laws, government compliance issues, employee-related costs and the ever-present threat of employee litigation. The central components of human resources management include staffing the practice; staying current with the legal environment;…
CPT: 99213, 89060 ICD-10: M10.072 Coding Rationale This is an established outpatient visit. The encounter is coded as 99213 because it included: History—Expanded problem-focused history. The history of present illness was brief, the review of systems was extended and the past medical and social history was documented. Examination—Detailed. There were seven organ systems examined. This…
RheumPAC is the ACR’s political action committee dedicated to increasing rheumatology’s presence on Capitol Hill. It is the only PAC dedicated to the interests of all rheumatologists and their patients. RheumPAC began in 2007 with the purpose of building contacts, influence and visibility within Washington, D.C. for rheumatology. RheumPAC works to support and elect pro-rheumatology…
The Rheumatology Research Workshop (RRW), a two-day meeting designed to promote interactions between early and established investigators to foster collaboration and facilitate career mentoring, was held this year on June 24–25 in Atlanta. Each year, the workshop includes scientific lectures, elevator pitch presentations, poster sessions and scheduled time for interaction with senior investigators to exchange…
A 55-year-old female patient returns to the office with complaints of gout pain. She is complaining of swelling and a burning pain in her left toe. She has been taking an over-the-counter NSAID to treat the pain, but this has done little to alleviate it. This is her second flare this year. The patient denies…
Connect with colleagues at the Basic Research Conference (BRC) and the Clinical Research Conference (CRC) pre-meeting courses at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting! The ACR has an exceptional array of research leaders lined up for this year’s BRC and CRC sessions on Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C. Get ready to…