From the College

Rheumatology Coding Corner Question: Gout Visit for Established Patient

From the College | October 10, 2016

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…

ACR/ARHP 2016 Research Conferences Foster Exchanges with Colleagues Before Annual Meeting Start

From the College | October 10, 2016

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…

Preceptorships, Mentors Steer Rheumatology

From the College | October 10, 2016

Brian Le, MD, a rheumatology fellow at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University (MCG), credits an excellent mentor and two Rheumatology Research Foundation preceptorships with guiding his career toward rheumatology. “Working with Dr. Laura Carbone has opened up a lot of doors for me,” says Dr. Le. “I wouldn’t have such a great relationship with…

UHC Expands Pilot Lab Benefit Management Program

From the College | October 5, 2016

UnitedHealthcare recently announced plans to expand its pilot Lab Benefit Management Program to Texas, as of March 1, 2017. The pilot program, which is administered by BeaconLBS, was first launched in Florida in October 2014. Under the pilot, providers are required to use a tool called Physician Decision Support to order certain labs for UHC…

Advocacy Spotlight: Dr. Matt Heinz, Candidate for Congress from Arizona District 2 (Tucson)

From the College | September 9, 2016

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…

Rheumatology Coding Corner Answer: Level 4 New Patient Visit

From the College | September 7, 2016

Take the challenge. Correct Answer: CPT: 99204 ICD-10: I73.00 Coding Rationale This is a new patient, outpatient visit for a self-referred patient. There is no formal consultation request from another physician; therefore, the encounter does not meet criteria for a consultation. This encounter is coded as 99204 because it included: Comprehensive history—Extended history of the…

Rheumatology Coding Corner Question: Level 4 New Patient Visit

From the College | September 7, 2016

A 32-year-old female patient comes in for an initial visit. She is self-referred and complains of pain, numbness and color changes in her fingers when exposed to cold. The patient reports that her right distal index finger, left distal index finger and fourth right finger turn white and blue with pain and numbness when exposed…

Transition to ICD-10 Diagnostic Code Set Successful for Most Rheumatology Practices

From the College | September 7, 2016

It has been 11 months since the implementation of the ICD-10 diagnostic code set on Oct. 1, 2015, a change from the previous ICD-9. Most practices can probably attest that the transition came and went without the predicted doomsday outcome: Claims were still processed, the confused alphanumeric coding was applied, and patients were not deprived…

The ACR’s Advocates for Arthritis 2016 Legislative Fly-In Heads to Capitol Hill

From the College | September 7, 2016

On Sept. 12–13, ACR advocates will be back on Capitol Hill as part of the Advocates for Arthritis legislative fly-in. This annual event brings together rheumatology professionals and patients to advocate on behalf of the rheumatology community. The core issues on which the advocates will focus this year include advocating for dramatic changes to the…

ACR Seeks Advisors for AMA/Specialty Society RUC and CPT Committee

From the College | September 7, 2016

The ACR is searching for practicing physicians interested in coding and reimbursement issues to represent the ACR on the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Committee. The RUC and CPT Committee comprise physicians representing the national medical specialty societies who advise the CPT Editorial Panel on matters concerning…