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

From the College

2011 CMS e-Prescribing Program: Will You Get Hit with Penalties?

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The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 provides for e-prescribing financial incentives in 2011 and financial penalties in 2012 and 2013. When you successfully e-prescribe and report on 25 patient encounters, you will be eligible to receive a 1% incentive of the total estimated allowed charges for professional services covered by Medicare Part B rendered in 2011. The big news, however, is the payment reductions for those who do not successfully meet e-prescribing reporting requirements that will be applied—1% in 2012 and 1.5% in 2013.

RHEUMATOLOGY PRACTICE PEARLS: Is Your Practice Ready for 5010?

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If your practice electronically submits administrative transactions to verify patient insurance eligibility, file claims, or send or receive remittance either directly to insurance companies or through a clearinghouse, the transaction version for that system will have to be updated by January 1, 2012. The current version 4010 is outdated and cannot accommodate the necessary business transactions for physician practices and healthcare facilities.

PRACTICE PAGE: The ACR Takes on Insurance Companies

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In response to the increasing demands of medical necessity and denials for approved drugs, the ACR is taking a large step towards protecting the rights of members when dealing with insurance companies.

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?