Rheumatology leaders are encouraged by continued implementation of E/M coding changes, telehealth flexibilities and rheumatology-specific MIPS Value Pathway, but have concerns regarding conversion factor reductions and the CMS EHR interoperability and digital quality measures proposal.
In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for tocilizumab (Actemra) for treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 adults and children who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and supplemental oxygen. Since this announcement, the tocilizumab manufacturer, Genentech, has not been able to produce enough product to meet the higher demand. The…
The ACR sent a letter to CVS Caremark detailing how recent updates to its prior authorization forms for many biologic drugs are increasing the paperwork burden for rheumatology practices and hurting patients’ timely access to treatment.
ATLANTA—The ACR is actively engaged with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) drug shortage team as they work with the manufacturer to resolve current shortages of tocilizumab (Actemra). Demand for tocilizumab has outpaced supply, with demand increasing after the FDA’s June 24 Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for…
Example 1 A cardiologist contacts a rheumatologist concerning a lupus patient. The rheumatologist sees the patient four weeks later for a complete examination. A 20-minute call is initiated to review the findings and the patient’s chart with the cardiologist. After the call is completed, the rheumatologist completes a verbal and written report to the patient’s…
The Rheumatology Research Foundation is proud to announce the launch of RheumBuilders, a new community of monthly donors, and the relaunch of its Legacy Society, a community of donors who have included the Foundation in their wills or estate plans. These initiatives are designed to deepen the Foundation’s commitment to rheumatology research and patient care,…
In 2016, as part of the Simple Tasks campaign, the ACR established September as Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM) to draw attention to the 100-plus conditions under the rheumatic disease umbrella. The goal of RDAM is not only to raise public awareness, but also to increase understanding about the symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, economic…
ATLANTA—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to withdraw a proposed rule to implement the “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) payment model for Part B drugs. Leaders felt the policy would have dramatically disrupted patient access to critical therapies needed to manage rheumatic diseases and…
On Aug. 1, UnitedHealthcare implemented a new policy on Services Incident-to a Supervising Health Care Provider that allows for appropriate reimbursement for “incident-to” services consistent with current Medicare guidelines.
With lawmakers home for the summer recess, you have the opportunity to meet with them in their local offices and help them understand how key legislation affects patients and healthcare providers. The ACR offers tools, resources and more to help.