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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

From the College

ACR Volunteers Meet in Atlanta for Leadership Development

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Volunteers from the ACR, ARHP, and REF met in Atlanta last month for the annual Leadership Development Conference. This year’s keynote lecture was on the changes in healthcare, including quality improvement and emerging reimbursement models such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and the Pay-for-Performance movement. The topic proved to be very important to the group,…

Shape the Future of ARHP

Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN  |  

Volunteering can increase perceived self-efficacy, self-esteem, and positive affect, which all can result in enhanced psychological health. Volunteering leads to the opportunity for social interaction or networking many times with individuals with whom you normally would not interact. A 2009 article found that 20% of the volunteers in their study stated that their health had improved since volunteering and that nearly 30% stated that their lives in general were improved in relation to their volunteering. The association between volunteering and greater health and happiness is a definite plus to volunteering in a professional organization such as the ARHP.

Avoid Coding & Billing Nightmares

Melesia Tillman, CPC, CRHC, CHA  |  

Imagine getting a demand letter from a carrier that states your practice has incorrectly billed a procedure for the last year. To make matters worse, the carrier is asking you to return an overpayment, which amounts to thousands of dollars, and they want the full overpayment check within 45 days. Believe it or not, this scenario happens to rheumatology practices across the country.

Navigate Maintenance of Certification

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As a rheumatologist, satisfaction comes in part through providing quality patient care, and one way to demonstrate a commitment to patients is through engaging in continuous professional development. The ACR is dedicated to helping physicians in all stages of their careers participate in the process of lifelong learning.

The New Year Brings New Opportunities in HIT

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January kicked off a new era for health information technology (HIT). A new year brings new opportunities, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) electronic health record (EHR) incentive program topping the list. But what is meaningful EHR use, and what does it mean for you? What are the steps to get started?

From the Twitterati

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During the 2010 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting, the ACR and others used Twitter to enhance the annual meeting experience, make connections with one another, and share information. There were approximately 600 tweets from 150 contributors during the meeting. Here’s a sample of what people were saying…

New ACR and ARHP Leaders Join the Ranks

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The ACR is pleased to welcome new and returning leaders to the ACR board of directors and ARHP executive committee who were appointed in November. The following members were selected to serve as the newest members-at-large of the ACR board of directors. Each of them shared what they will bring to the table.

Medical Necessity—What Does it Mean?

Melesia Tillman, CPC, CRHC, CHA  |  

Almost every physician in this country has heard this phrase, “denied as not meeting medical necessity for the service performed.” What does this mean? How does a practice document medical necessity? Not knowing the answer to these questions can greatly affect a rheumatology practice’s financial well-being.