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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Judge Signals Skepticism in Trump Team’s Bid to Block Obamacare Suit

Sarah N. Lynch  |  

(Reuters)—A U.S. judge signaled skepticism on Wednesday toward a bid by President Donald Trump’s administration to block a lawsuit by the state of Maryland seeking to preserve the Obamacare law in a case that also challenges Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. At a nearly three-hour hearing in federal court in Baltimore,…

Cigna Closes $54 Billion Purchase of Express Scripts

Caroline Humer  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Cigna Corp on Thursday closed its $54-billion deal to buy Express Scripts Holding Co, creating one of the biggest providers of pharmacy benefits and insurance plans in the United States, a combination it says will help it improve healthcare coordination and cut costs. Cigna’s deal puts it in direct competition with two other…

Sign-ups for 2019 Obamacare Insurance Fall to 8.5 Million People

Caroline Humer  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)–The number of Americans who signed up for 2019 insurance plans created by the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare, fell by about 4 percent to 8.5 million people from 2018, the U.S. government said on Wednesday. Enrollment had been running about 10 percent lower but picked up during the past week, reflecting…

Maryland Judge to Weigh Obamacare Case

Sarah N. Lynch  |  

(Reuters)—Days after a judge in Texas declared that the Obamacare healthcare law is unconstitutional, Maryland’s Democratic attorney general on Wednesday will pursue his request that another judge rule the opposite way. The lawsuit brought by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh also seeks to challenge President Donald Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general,…

Mourning the Loss of NIAMS Director Stephen Katz, MD, PhD

Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, NIH Director  |  

“It is with a profoundly heavy heart that I share with you the sad news that we have lost one of our most beloved leaders at NIH. Steve Katz, MD, PhD, the long-time director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), died early this morning after suffering a catastrophic stroke….

Coding Corner Answers: Rheumatology Word Search

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Take the challenge. Ultrasound guidance: There must be a permanent picture placed in the patient’s medical chart to meet the requirements of documentation guidelines. Arthrocentesis: This is the proper term for the withdrawal of fluid and/or injection of medication into a joint. If both the aspiration and injection are performed during the same encounter, only…

Coding Corner Questions: Rheumatology Word Search

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Find the words/terms suggested by the following clues: What is the procedure conducted when a permanent picture is required for a joint injection? What is another name for a joint injection? What should be done when a patient returns for an infusion and a prior authorization has already been approved? On what body system is…

Common Issues That Lead to Claim Denials

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In an already complicated reimbursement landscape, claims denials can potentially pose a serious issue to the financial revenue for rheumatology practices.  Denials are not only highly prevalent in the healthcare environment, but also costly to appeal, which affects overall reimbursements. According to The Physician Billing Process: 12 Potholes to Avoid in the Road to Getting…

Rheumatology Research Foundation Names Honorary Board of Advisors

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The Rheumatology Research Foundation’s Honorary Board of Advisors is reserved exclusively for individuals who have made a transformative contribution, via a significant donation or through leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the organization’s future fundraising success. This year, Audrey M. Nelson, MD, from the Mayo Clinic, and ACR Executive Vice President Mark Andrejeski were named…