In March, the ACR released a white paper designed primarily to help rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals gain an understanding of biosimilars.1 This research-based education piece examines the scientific, economic and prescribing issues related to the use of biosimilars. Now, the ACR has released an update to its official position statement on the use of… [Read More]
Editor Keri Losavio has been a professional editor and writer in the medical and financial fields for 20 years and joined the Wiley team in February 2014. She has written for and edited newsletters, magazines, personal memoirs, book proposals, dissertations, textbooks and more.
Articles by Keri Losavio
Back to the Future: Spotlight on ACR Past President Dr. Herbert Kaplan
We are sad to report that Dr. Kaplan passed away on Saturday, June 23. We are reposting this story now to celebrate his life.... [Read More]
From AIDS to Zika: ‘What’s next?’ asked Dr. Anthony Fauci in keynote address at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
SAN DIEGO—The 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting kicked off on Nov. 4 with a rousing presentation by Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). A terrorist attack on U.S. soil, hurricane, cyberattack and pandemic were the four scenarios played out in late 2016, when NIAID conducted a tabletop… [Read More]
Opinion: Help Bring Drug Prices Down
I read with interest the articles in the June issue of The Rheumatologist pertaining to high drug costs. Simon Helfgott rheuminated on it, and Susan Bernstein, a medical journalist, wrote a two-page article titled “Concerns About Cost.” Both articles were thoughtful summaries of a complex issue, putting large question marks over both initial prices and… [Read More]
CORC: The Uncomfortable Move from Fee for Service to Value
ACR members are spread out across the U.S., but we all work in the same place: the land of fee for service. FFS, as it’s known to policy nerds, poses certain problems for cognitive subspecialists like rheumatologists. For instance, much of the work we do—calling providers and patients, coordinating care after hours—often isn’t compensated. And… [Read More]
Medical Records Don’t Always Match What Patients Say
(Reuters Health)—Symptoms that patients describe to doctors may not always be documented in electronic medical records, a small U.S. study suggests. To test out how well the records match reality, researchers compared symptoms that 162 patients checked off on paper-based questionnaires with the information entered in patients’ electronic charts at eye clinics. Roughly one-third of… [Read More]
New GAC Chair Picks up the Baton
It’s an honor and a thrill to be the next chair of the Government Affairs Committee. Boy, do we have a big year ahead. ... [Read More]
Prior Authorization Reform Achieves Some Success
In early August, the American Medical Association (AMA) held its annual state advocacy strategy meeting in Chicago. This meeting pulls together all state medical societies and national specialty organizations. Over three days, participants engage in roundtable discussions on issues, solutions and best practices for health policy. Networking opportunities abound. The meetings showcase legislation that has… [Read More]
Humira Found Partially Effective against Hidradenitis Suppurativa
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – The anti-inflammatory drug adalimumab can provide significant relief for about a quarter of people who suffer from a moderate-to-severe case of the chronic skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa, according to two 36-week trials. But the drug – which would cost over $104,000 per year for the weekly injections used in the… [Read More]
Valeant Psoriasis Drug’s Suicide Risk Hard to Assess, Say FDA Staff
(Reuters)—Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.’s experimental drug to treat psoriasis carries a potential risk of suicide that is challenging to assess due to limited data, a preliminary review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday. The review comes two days ahead of a meeting of outside experts who will advise the FDA on… [Read More]