Reducing the time to diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment is paramount to intercept inflammatory damage in patients at the onset of rheumatic disease. But those targets can be delayed by provider shortages and other barriers to care. Since last June, Remission Medical, a virtual rheumatology clinic, has been partnering with Mayo Clinic to find…
As of April 1, HCPCS codes for methylprednisolone have changed. The ACR is working with the CMS to determine how rheumatologists should bill Medicare corrrectly.
The state legislative tracker shows rheumatology-related bills the ACR is actively tracking in state legislatures across the country. It lists bills by issue area and state and is regularly updated to show each bill’s progression through the legislative process.
On April 1, UnitedHealthcare updated reimbursement for infliximab biosimilars in response to concerns that formulary requirements are leaving practices underwater.
The ACR joined with 52 organizations in thanking House and Senate leaders for introducing the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, which would support employment-based visas for international physicians and nurses.
The ACR is actively monitoring more than 60 pieces of legislation, focusing on such key issues as copay accumulators, utilization management reform, gold card programs and other emerging concerns. Two states have passed utilization management reform bills this year.
Despite challenges, private practice has many rewards, such as more autonomy, says Tien-I Karleen Su, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR’s Community Practice Council.
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.
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….
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.