On Dec. 8, 2017, members of the Cognitive Care Alliance (CCA)—of which the ACR is a leading member—met with members of Congress on the Hill and representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss ongoing concerns about the inadequacy of existing evaluation and management (E/M) codes to properly remunerate cognitive services… [Read More]
Mary Beth Nierengarten is a writer, editor and journalist with over 25 years of medical communications experience. She is a regular contributor to a number of online and print publications and writes in most clinical areas, as well as on health policy and economic issues. She lives in Minneapolis and can be reached at mbeth@visi.com.
Articles by Mary Beth Nierengarten
Update on ACR’s Rheumatology-Specific APM
Efforts by the ACR to develop a rheumatology-specific alternative payment model (APM) are well under way. The first draft proposal was approved by the ACR Board of Directors in November and presented to the rheumatology community during the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego. The ACR is pursuing the development of a rheumatology-specific APM… [Read More]
Research Targets Interferon Alpha in New Treatment Approach for CNS Lupus
Insight into the disease mechanisms and cause of brain dysfunction in patients with central nervous system (CNS) lupus suggests a potential new way to treat the common and diverse neuropsychiatric symptoms these patients often exhibit: Target the underlying pathology. Findings of a new study suggest that type I interferon plays a critical role in stimulating… [Read More]
Rheumatology Drug Updates: Biosiomilar to Adalimumab Receives FDA Approval; plus Updates on Baricitinib, Tofacitinib, Bimekizumab
FDA Approves Adalimumab-adbm On Aug. 29, the FDA approved Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm), a biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab).1 Cyltezo was approved as a prefilled syringe to treat multiple chronic inflammatory diseases, including moderate to severe active RA, active psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The treatment has also been approved for moderate… [Read More]
ACR Pursues Solutions for Flawed MIPS Infusion Regulations & Billing Codes
While the latest version of the Republican-sponsored healthcare bill once again falters and its prospects of becoming the new law of the land fade, plenty of advocacy work is continuing on behalf of rheumatologists and rheumatology practices. The ACR, along with multiple partners, has renewed its push for regulatory relief in a number of areas… [Read More]
Osteoporosis Screening Is Underutilized Despite Recommendations
For years, guidelines from various organizations have recommended osteoporosis screening in women and men starting at a specific age or based on specific risk factors. Among these guidelines are those developed by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that recommend universal osteoporosis screening for women 65 years of age and older and for targeted… [Read More]
EULAR Releases 2016 Recommendations on RA Management
Management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is complex. The ever-expanding availability of new drugs requires that rheumatologists and patients constantly consider treatment strategies and targets aimed at both disease control and symptom relief while remaining cognizant of the increasing high cost of emerging medications. Given such complexity, guidelines to inform rheumatologists about the most recent developments… [Read More]
The ACR Is Exploring a Rheumatology-Specific APM
In response to the required changes in reimbursement from fee for service to value-based payment under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, the ACR is exploring development of a rheumatology-specific alternative payment model (APM) for rheumatologists and practices, which would provide an additional option for payment other than the Merit-Based Incentive… [Read More]
Stem Cell Transplantation Shown to Improve Outcomes in Systemic Sclerosis
Rheumatologists now have another treatment option to offer their patients with one of, if not the most, difficult autoimmune diseases to treat. New data add to the growing evidence of the safety and benefit of stem cell transplantation for patients with systemic sclerosis with internal organ involvement. New results of the Scleroderma: Cyclophosphamide or Transplantation… [Read More]
Institute for Clinical Economic Review Final Report on RA Treatments
On April 7, 2017, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) published its final report, titled, Targeted Immune Modulators for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effectiveness & Value.1 The stated objective of the report was to assess the comparative clinical effectiveness of the targeted immune modulators (TIMs) used to treat patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid… [Read More]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 11
- Next Page »