Guidance

Subcategories:Clinical Criteria/Guidelines Ethics Legal Updates Legislation & Advocacy Meeting Reports Research Rheum

The Good and Bad of Healthcare Reform

Stanley B. Cohen, MD | May 1, 2010

Even though the law was passed, the work of reform is just beginning

Decode the Crosstalk Between Bones, Brain, and Fat

Kathy Holliman | April 1, 2010

Leptin inhibits serotonin synthesis in the neurons of the brainstem

Donating Earned Honoraria, an Easy Way to Support the REF

From the College | April 1, 2010

Did you know that assigning earned honoraria to the REF counts as making your annual gift for the fiscal year?

HHS Enforces Stricter Rules on HIPAA

From the College | April 1, 2010

As of February 17, 2010, entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), such as group health plans and their business associates, will have to take certain actions to ensure continued compliance with the privacy and security provisions of the act.

In Advocacy, Slow and Steady Wins the Race

From the College | April 1, 2010

Earlier in the year, it seemed that healthcare reform was stopped in its tracks because of the Massachusetts Senate special election—which placed Republican Scott Brown in the seat held by the “Liberal Lion,” Edward M. Kennedy. The Senate Democrats lost their supermajority and the momentum to pass President Obama’s healthcare reform legislation subsided. But through strong lobbying by the president, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590)—comprehensive healthcare reform—on March 21, and the president signed the bill into law on March 23.

Coding Note

From the College | April 1, 2010

As of January 1, 2010, Medicare eliminated both inpatient and outpatient consultation codes.

Omeract How to Get into the “Act”

Peter Brooks, MD, Maarten Boers, MD,PhD, MSc, Lee S. Simon, MD, Vibeke Strand, MD,and Peter Tugwell, MD | April 1, 2010

Meet this international organization that focuses on rheumatology outcome measures

REF-Funded Research Provides Prognostic Information about Childhood-onset SLE

Staff | April 1, 2010

A study recently published in Arthritis Care & Research concluded that there are differences in the outcomes of patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and adult-onset SLE, which provides important prognostic information about long-term SLE disease activity and treatment.

Changing Our Thinking on Osteoarthritis

Louis G. Pack DPM, MS | March 1, 2010

It’s time we changed our thinking on osteoarthritis

The ACR Supports the Rheumatology Workforce

From the College | March 1, 2010

The ACR Committee on Training and Workforce Issues remains committed to supporting rheumatology training programs to ensure a well-prepared future workforce. Given the significant role rheumatology training directors play in the recruitment and education of rheumatology fellows, the ACR considers it essential to support their efforts.