Community practice rheumatology brings with it certain challenges, but it also offers rewards, such as autonomy and the capacity to develop deep relationships with patients. Three rheumatologists discuss the challenges and rewards of private practice.
Change Healthcare/Optum Cyberattack: Key Updates on Claims Disruptions & Emergency Funding
The Feb. 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, the clearinghouse vendor that connects providers with insurance payers, including Medicare, has caused unprecedented challenges and had a critical financial impact on payments to providers nationwide. UnitedHealthcare Group (UHG), the parent company of Change, confirmed on March 8 that it is making significant progress to restore all systems….
Congressional Action Partially Addresses Medicare Cuts
The newest funding package reduces the latest cut to Medicare reimbursement from 3.4% to 1.68%. Although rheumatologists are faring better under Medicare in 2024, broader reforms remain the ACR’s highest priority regarding Medicare payments to physicians.
Updated Coding Guidance for 2024 Remote Physiologic Monitoring & Therapeutic Monitoring
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated recent regulations to clarify some points about remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) services for key areas.
Updates from the ACR Insurance Subcommittee
The Insurance Subcommittee is working to address coverage and reimbursement challenges facing rheumatology practices, including issues related to biosimilar use, in-office treatments and the new G2211 code.
The Roles of the Interdisciplinary Rheumatology Team in Patient Care Highlighted
To work together effectively, clinicians and rheumatology professionals need to understand the roles of every member of the interdisciplinary team. To enhance this understanding, the ARP Interprofessional Practice & Management Committee has undertaken a project to describe the modern roles of members of the interdisciplinary team in a series of fact sheets. The first three…
Physicians vs. Artificial Intelligence
When patients have questions, can artificial intelligence (AI) generate accurate, comprehensive answers? Ye et al. conducted a single-center, cross-sectional survey of rheumatology patients and physicians in Edmonton, Canada, to explore that question.
Make Way for the Interprofessional Rheumatology Team!
Editor’s note: Originally published on Oct. 12, 2023. Updated Feb. 28, 2024, to add fact sheets. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a leading cause of medical errors and poor care is a lack of communication between healthcare providers.1 As healthcare has evolved, the importance of holistic care has become more…
The ACR Gets Rheumatologists Paid More
The implementation of the new G2211 code on Jan. 1 increases reimbursement for rheumatology visits, but the ACR continues to fight for retroactive repayment of the across-the-board Medicare physician reimbursement cuts implemented at the same time, as well as structural changes to the program to make serving Medicare patients sustainable for rheumatologists in the long term.
New Quality Measures Aim to Address Gaps & Inequities in Lupus Care
Through a project to reduce gaps and inequities in lupus care and treatment, ACR work groups have developed five quality measures focused on clinical and patient-reported outcomes and are integrating them into the RISE registry to support patient care and research.