Networking with colleagues: One of the best ways to get tuned in to clinical issues and coding issues is by joining a regional list serve. Members from every region have subscribed to one or more of the ACR’s list serves, which were launched in July 2006. Recent discussions include crystal analysis and laboratories, DXA reimbursement, acute anterior uveitis, ONJ and bisphosphonates and numerous coding and reimbursement issues. Encourage your staff to sign up for the coding and practice management list serve.
Legislative advocacy: The ACR Government Affairs Committee undertakes activities regarding pending and proposed legislation that may have an effect on our members and their patients. We issue legislative alerts, facilitate and conduct Hill visits between ACR leaders and members and key Congressional leaders and their staffs, host legislative receptions, and initiate letter-writing campaigns to influence the outcome of legislation. We have an outstanding online Legislative Action Center where you can learn more about the prevailing issues affecting our profession, locate and communicate with your House and Senate representatives, and learn more about how you can become involved in legislative advocacy efforts.
Courses: The Committee on Rheumatologic Care develops educational sessions for the ACR State-of-the-Art meeting in April and the annual meeting each year. These sessions focus on coding, compliance, electronic medical records and more. Interested in seeing a specific topic? Let us know.
Let Us Know What You Think
If you want to see additional services, or if you have suggestions for how to improve our efforts, please contact us. We are constantly looking at ways to improve the practice environment for every one of our practicing members. Additionally, if something has worked well for you—a particular letter or program in your office—let the staff know or post it on the list serve. As rheumatologists, our best outcomes will occur when we work together to improve the practice environment of rheumatology.
Dr. Birnbaum is president of ACR. Contact him via e-mail at [email protected].
