‘Prior authorizations are the bane of our existence as rheumatologists,’ says Physician Editor Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS. ‘How bad is it, how can we manage them, and how is the ACR helping? Read on in this month’s Editor’s Pick.’ Healthcare providers consider prior authorization (PA) a significant burden, but to different degrees…
As state legislatures begin to convene their sessions in 2025, several key issues related to rheumatology are expected to take center stage, including drug costs, utilization management, telehealth and copay accumulators.
Patients with RA not only suffer from functional limitations, but also face increased healthcare costs, primarily due to prescription drug use, says Dr. Yinan Huang.
Changes to Medicare benefits in 2025 include an annual $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs and a new, voluntary Medicare Prescription Payment Plan intended to help beneficiaries manage drug costs.
The advent of biosimilar medications has offered the promise of significant cost savings for healthcare systems and patients. Biosimilars are highly similar versions of existing biologic drugs, providing a more affordable alternative once the original biologic patent expires. However, the adoption of biosimilars in the U.S. has been hampered by myriad roadblocks, many of which…
At a Great Debate session, speakers discussed whether mixed connective tissue disease is a distinct disease entity in rheumatology.
Doctors and patient advocates urged the rheumatology community to address the drastic inadequacies in care faced by marginalized people in a session held at ACR Convergence 2024.
Experts offered perspectives on how symptoms of rheumatic disease, such as fatigue, affect the physical, cognitive and emotional health of patients and offered solutions.
The 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, released Nov. 1, includes a conversion factor of $32.3465, a 2.83% drop from 2024. In response to advocacy efforts from the ACR and other medical societies, Congress recently introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2024, which would eliminate the 2.83% payment cut and provide an inflationary update for 2025 equal to 50% of the Medicare Economic Index.
It’s an exciting time for ultrasound in rheumatology, & it’s never too late to learn. Whether you’re just starting fellowship or have been practicing for decades, there’s a place for ultrasound in your practice.