Greetings, Advocates! Great news for the rheumatology community came on Feb. 9, when the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was enacted. It contains several critical healthcare fixes pertinent to rheumatology. First, after hundreds of emails, meetings, letters to the editor, an op-ed, and a forceful 109-member coalition (led by the ACR and including many state…
CMS Repeals Documentation Guidelines for Teaching Physicians
As of March 5, physicians no longer have to write their own notes in addition to notes created by students, residents or fellows during patient examinations; instead, providers will only have to verify information documented by the student. Early last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reversed the Obama administration policy that prohibited…
Diclofenac Patch, Piroxicam Most Effective Topical NSAIDs for Osteoarthritis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Diclofenac patches appear to be the most effective topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for osteoarthritis (OA), according to a new systematic review and network meta-analysis. “Topical NSAIDs were effective and safe for OA,” Dr. Weiya Zhang of the University of Nottingham and City Hospital in the UK and colleagues write. “However, confirmation…
Participate in CMS Reporting Study to Receive 2018 Improvement Activity Credit
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting the 2018 Burdens Associated with Reporting Quality Measures Study, as outlined in the Quality Payment Program Year 2 final rule (CMS 5522- FC). The CMS is conducting this study to: Examine clinical workflows and data-collection methods using different submission systems; Understand the challenges clinicians face when…
U.S. to File ‘Statement of Interest’ in Lawsuits Against Opioid Makers, Distributors
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Justice Department will argue the federal government deserves reimbursement for costs it has borne stemming from the opioid crisis in a “statement of interest” it plans to file in a lawsuit against drug manufacturers and distributors, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Tuesday. “I am announcing today that the department will…
20 U.S. States Sue Federal Government Seeking End to Obamacare
(Reuters)—A coalition of 20 U.S. states sued the federal government on Monday over Obamacare, claiming the law was no longer constitutional after the repeal last year of its requirement that people have health insurance or pay a fine. Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, the lawsuit said that…
Anthem Cancels Planned Modifier 25 Cuts
Anthem, a Blue Cross Blue Shield company that operates in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, has decided not to move forward with a policy that would have resulted in decreased reimbursement for evaluation and management (E/M) services when billed with modifier 25. As reported…
Secukinumab Promising for Sustained Improvements in Palmoplantar & Nail Psoriasis
In clinical trials, secukinumab proved safe and effective as a long-term treatment for both palmoplantar and nail psoriasis…
The Science Behind Biosimilars
Although six biosimilar agents have now been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for use in rheumatology, scientific, clinical, economic and prescribing questions about the use of biosimilars abound. In fact, at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego, Joseph Huffstutter, MD, a rheumatologist in private practice in Chattanooga, Tenn., said that…
What’s Driving the Pain? Alternative Approaches to Pain Management
Patients can experience many different types of pain, and some patients with chronic pain may believe that only opioids will help them. According to Kelly Weselman, MD, the best way to begin managing pain is to determine its root cause and communicate with the patient about the best approach(es) for decreasing their specific pain…
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- …
- 310
- Next Page »