In the coming fiscal year (July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019), the Rheumatology Research Foundation has committed to fund more than $9.4 million in rheumatology research and training. Approximately half of the awards will support efforts to recruit and train the next generation of rheumatology professionals. The remaining funds will be awarded to advance research projects…
Robert Finberg, MD, chair of medicine at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in Worcester, describes Ellen M. Gravallese, MD, as one of a dying breed: a quadruple-threat physician who excels in basic science research, clinical care, teaching and administration. Dr. Gravallese holds the Myles J. McDonough Chair in Rheumatology, is professor of medicine and serves…
Take the challenge. CPT codes: 96413, 96415, 96375, J1745x30, J1200x1 Diagnosis ICD-10: M05.79 With the total infusion time of two hours and 13 minutes, CPT code 96413 is used to code for the first hour of the infusion and 96415 for the additional hour. The infusion would have to be 31 minutes into the next…
A 73-year-old female established patient with rheumatoid arthritis affecting multiple joints and with positive rheumatoid factor returns to the office for an infliximab infusion. She denies any fevers, cough, dyspnea or concurrent illness. She has joint pain of 6 on the pain scale. She is on an NSAID, weekly methotrexate subcutaneous injections, folic acid and…
Advocacy and RheumPAC staff from the ACR and other medical specialty organizations gathered in Nashville this month to discuss the importance of making sure your members know the details of the work advocacy and the PAC are doing. Thus far, the ACR has had a very successful year in terms of its advocacy efforts. Following…
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The ACR hosted the 2018 Advocacy Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on May 16–17. Rheumatology professionals from around the country flew to our nation’s capitol to attend the conference, where advocates heard from key policymakers and spoke with lawmakers about the issues that affect the rheumatology community—and what ACR/ARHP members can do to influence policy….
When coding evaluation and management (E/M) services provided to a patient, one of the most persistent concerns is whether a patient is new or established to the practice. Although this may seem like a simple coding answer, the distinction is an important one, because it enables providers to appropriately bill and receive reimbursement correctly. E/M…
Take the challenge. CPT codes: 96413, 96415, 96375, Q5103x20, J1200 ICD-10: M07.9 Coding Rationale This procedure is billed with CPT code 96413 for the initial hour of the intravenous infusion and CPT code 96415 for each additional hour. The patient was given 50 mg of diphenhydramine prior to the infusion to prevent reactions and should…
A 68-year-old female patient returns to the office for a second round of Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) infusion for her rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of multiple joints without organ or systems involvement. She reports pain, stiffness and swelling in her left and right knees and right elbow and rates the pain at a 9 on a…
The ACR praises Congressional leaders for passing the sweeping spending agreement, which includes a technical provision reversing a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy that would have linked physicians’ quality payment adjustments to Medicare Part B drug costs starting in 2019. The ACR also applauds the inclusion of provisions that permanently repeal Medicare…