Now in its 16th year, the Wisconsin Rheumatology Association engages and supports rheumatology professionals through advocacy sessions, annual meetings and continuing medical education-accredited events.
To say it has been an interesting (the science and the memes), tumultuous (the politics) and heartbreaking (the pandemic and social injustice) year is an understatement. There have been moments of grace and inspiration that we hope have kept everyone going. As we look to 2021, we take lessons from our experiences in 2020. Washington,…
New state legislatures face many continuing issues, including budget shortfalls, vaccine distribution problems and strained healthcare infrastructure. However, opportunities exist for significant policy wins for rheumatology, particularly on the issues of step therapy reform, telemedicine and copay accumulators.
At the virtual interim meeting Nov. 13–17, the ACR delegation led a successful bid to update American Medical Association policies on home infusion and copay accumulators and supported efforts against the Most Favored Nation drug pricing model.
New Appointments for Carlos Lozada, MD In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Carlos J. Lozada, MD, FACP, FACR, professor of clinical medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has expanded his professional and volunteer duties. In May he was appointed chief (interim) of the Division of Rheumatology at the Miller School of Medicine,…
As founder and president of a large rheumatology group, Howard M. Busch, DO, says the pandemic has had a limited financial effect on many of the network’s clinics. Communication and technology have been key to adapting to the needs of patients and connecting with other providers during this critical time.
As a new year begins, Government Affairs Committee Chair Blair Solow, MD, takes stock of ACR advocacy wins in 2020 and issues to watch in 2021, including workforce issues, continued telemedicine access, prior authorization relief, Medicare reimbursement and drug pricing.
In an ACR Convergence session, two rheumatologists discussed how COVID-19 changed the use of telemedicine, how payers reacted and which changes are likely permanent and which are likely to be temporary.
Marcus Snow, MD, FACR, had his first exposure to rheumatology in a rotation during his residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. James O’Dell, MD, Theodore Mikuls, MD, Jay Moore, MD, Lynn Klassen, MD, and other physicians showed how rheumatology could be the perfect mix of a narrow clinical focus with interesting patient…