ACR Convergence 2025| Video: Rheuminations on Milestones & Ageism

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

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U.S. Healthcare Costs to Escalate Over Next Decade

Reuters Staff  |  

WASHINGTON—The cost of medical care in the United States is expected to grow at a faster clip over the next decade and overall health spending growth will outpace that of the gross domestic product, a U.S. government health agency said on Wednesday. A report by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cited…

Trump Administration Proposes Stricter Obamacare Rules

Caroline Humer  |  

NEW YORK—The Trump administration on Wednesday proposed changes to the Obamacare individual insurance market that insurers welcomed as a good start but that others pointed out could raise out-of-pocket cost for consumers. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have promised to scrap the 2010 healthcare law that is a key legacy of Democrat Barack Obama’s…

When Interstitial Lung Disease and Connective Tissue Disorder Intersect in Rheumatology Patients

Larry Beresford  |  

SAN FRANCISCO—Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by inflammation or fibrosis of the lungs. The disorders are also associated with a spectrum of connective tissue diseases (CTDs). ILD is a common manifestation of CTDs, such as scleroderma, poly-/dermatomyositis and rheumatoid arthritis—and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in…

Rheumatologists Can Boost Job Satisfaction with Back-to-Basics Practice Management

Arthur E. Brawer, MD  |  

Over the past two decades, many physicians have ironically abrogated their intellectual abilities by resigning themselves to a fate of being worthless unless they work for someone else. Many factors have contributed to this process, including, but not limited to, declining reimbursements, escalating costs, onerous electronic record mandates, intense competition from hospital conglomerates and burdensome…

U.S. Court Blocks Anthem-Cigna Deal

Diane Bartz & Caroline Humer  |  

(Reuters)—A federal judge on Wednesday ruled against U.S. health insurer Anthem Inc.’s proposed $54 billion merger with smaller rival Cigna Corp, derailing an unprecedented effort to consolidate the country’s health insurance industry. The U.S. Department of Justice sued in July to stop Anthem’s purchase of Cigna, a deal that would have created the largest U.S….

U.S. House Speaker: Obamacare Replacement Law to Pass this Year

Susan Cornwell  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. House of Representatives‘ Republican leader said on Tuesday that legislation to replace former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law will be completed this year, trying to assuage concerns that the party is retreating from its campaign promise to dismantle Obamacare. “We are going to be done legislating with respect to healthcare and…

UnitedHealthcare Delays Lab Program Implementation in Texas

Sean Fahey  |  

As you probably know, the ACR is one of several organizations that has been advocating against the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Laboratory Benefit Management Program, which was launched in Florida in 2014 and was due to expand to Texas on March 1. The program requires use of certain laboratories and online physician decision support for certain tests,…

Principles Would Streamline Prior Authorization Processes

Carol Patton  |  

The ACR recently partnered with the American Medical Association (AMA) and a coalition of 16 other organizations representing physicians, medical groups, hospitals, pharmacists and patients to dramatically reshape prior-authorization protocols. The coalition is urging an industry-wide reassessment of these protocols to align with a newly created set of 21 principles, called the Prior Authorization and…