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

From the College

Avoid Compliance Risks When Using Billing Companies

Antanya Chung, CPC, CCP  |  

Outsourcing your billing to a third party will not alleviate your compliance duties or reduce your risk of a government investigation. Conversely, a relationship with a third-party biller can increase your compliance obligations and raise audit risks.

A New Twist in the Consumerization of Healthcare

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Who are the new medical consumers? These people behave like medical “shoppers” because they are more mobile than previous generations and are empowered by the Internet. They can research and form opinions about diseases, treatment options, and the best route to recovery—all before stepping foot in to an exam room. This emerging population has been taught that in order to be a health-wise consumer and to get the most value, a patient must take an active role in his or her care.

Giant Cell Arteritis

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Giant cell arteritis (GCA)—a type of vasculitis—is a group of diseases whose typical feature is inflammation of blood vessels. The blood vessels most commonly involved are the arteries of the scalp and head (especially the arteries over the temples), which is why another term for GCA is “temporal arteritis.” GCA can overlap with another rheumatic disease called polymyalgia rheumatica, and symptoms of the two conditions can occur at the same time or separately. The causes of GCA and polymyalgia rheumatica are unknown.

Eye on the Election

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Over the past two years, we have heard presidential candidates touting their messages to voters. Each candidate has crafted messages they believe will appeal to voters, and as campaigns continue to accelerate, these messages will saturate the radio, television, and the reading materials of the American public.

Bring a New Partner Into Your Rheumatology Practice

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The professional relationship between partners in a joint medical practice is sometimes compared with a marriage. The partners must work under the same roof, share the same goals, and strive to make the practice as successful as it can be. Here are some tips for adding a new partner to your practice.

Research Funded by Within Our Reach Highlighted

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Five Within Our Reach science investigators provided overviews and updates of their RA research projects to the newly formed Within Our Reach advisory board at its inaugural meeting, held November 8, 2007.

Meet the Affiliate Society Council

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The Affiliate Society Council (ASC), a subcommittee of the Committee on Rheumatologic Care, will replace the Regional Advisory Council as a support mechanism for the ACR when working with rheumatology programs at the local and national level. It launched in January. The ASC and the ACR will work in conjunction with state and local societies on practice advocacy issues and create best practices for information sharing.

ACR Master Wins 2007 Leadership in Personalized Medicine Award

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ACR Master Ralph Snyderman, MD, chancellor emeritus for health affairs at Duke University in Durham, N.C., and founder and chairman of Proventys Inc., recently received the 2007 Leadership in Personalized Medicine Award. The award, given by the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), honors Dr. Snyderman’s efforts to advance predictive and targeted therapies on a national scale.

Osteonecrosis

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Osteonecrosis, also called avascular necrosis or aseptic necrosis, is a condition in which the death of bone cells (due to decreased blood flow) can lead to pain and collapse of areas of bone. This collapse of bone, in turn, can lead to degenerative arthritis of nearby joints, most commonly the hips and knees. Less frequently affected are the shoulders, hands, and feet. In rare instances, osteonecrosis can occur in the jaw— resulting in pain and mouth ulceration. Osteonecrosis is not fatal, but can lead to pain, arthritis, problems with physical activity, and even the need for joint replacement. Most of the 10,000 to 20,000 Americans developing osteonecrosis annually are between age 20 and 50. These individuals usually have a history of serious trauma, corticosteroid use, excess alcohol intake, or other conditions including systemic lupus erythematosus, dysbarism (“the bends” that occur with scuba diving), blood disorders, HIV infection, and radiation therapy.

2008 ARHP Graduate Student Award

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If you work in the field of rheumatology, you know the importance of mentoring students who show interest in the field. With the many specialty options presented to healthcare students, it is of vital importance to open the door to rheumatology.