New Toolkits Ease Pediatric-to-Adult-Care Transitions for Rheumatology Patients

“Many physicians are unaware that they can bill for some of these extra services,” says Dr. Ardoin. “For example, if you use a scorable tool—and all of ours are scorable—to address readiness, there is a CPT code that can be used to account for the extra time.”

In the end, what’s important is making sure that patients are transferred from one provider to another in ways that ensure better continuity of care as they move through their life.

“When you are making changes and incorporating them into your practice, it is a lot of work up front,” says Dr. Oppermann. “But when you are done, it pays off in the end.”

For more information and suggested forms, visit the ACR website.

Kurt Ullman is a freelance writer based in Indiana.

References

1. Chira P, Ronis T, Ardoin S, White P. Transitioning youth with rheumatic diseases: Perspectives of pediatric rheumatology providers in the United States and Canada. J Rheum. 2014 Apr;41(4):768–769.
2. Zisman D, White P, Chira P, et al. U.S. adult rheumatologists perspective on transition process for young adults with rheumatic conditions [Abstract 1277]. Presented at the 2015 ACR/AHRP Annual Meeting. San Francisco. 2015 Nov 9.