The implementation of the new G2211 code on Jan. 1 increases reimbursement for rheumatology visits, but the ACR continues to fight for retroactive repayment of the across-the-board Medicare physician reimbursement cuts implemented at the same time, as well as structural changes to the program to make serving Medicare patients sustainable for rheumatologists in the long term.
Daniel F. Battafarano, DO, MACP, MACR, shares the many ways his volunteering has enhanced his personal and professional life throughout his career.
In October 2023, Megan E.B. Clowse, MD, MPH, a renowned expert in the field of rheumatology and immunology, was named the new chief of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C. Dr. Clowse, who serves as an associate professor of medicine in Duke’s Division of Rheumatology and Immunology…
On Nov. 4, 2022, the world lost a learned professor, a dedicated doctor, an inquisitive scientist, an adept clinician and, above all, an epitome of Athena’s representation of Mentor in Homer’s Odyssey. Robert W. Lightfoot Jr., MD, had come a long way. Born in 1937, toward the end of the Great Depression, in Nashville, Tenn.,…
On April 30, 2023, the world lost Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR, an illustrious clinical puzzle master who stopped at nothing to do right by his patients—and to ensure the next generation of rheumatologists would be properly trained. Dr. Brasington, a former associate editor of The Rheumatologist and emeritus professor of medicine at Washington…
“I circled 30 minutes … but it feels more like five hours getting ready for work Monday to Friday and only 15 minutes in a hot bath on weekends,” my patient relayed to me. Greg (name changed, obviously) is an ambitious young professional who has axial spondyloarthritis. He’s also a really funny guy with a…
Intermittent fasting—defined as alternating between cycles of eating and going without food over a given period of time—has become popular with individuals seeking to lose weight or balance their lifestyle in recent years. During Ramadan (a period based on the Gregorian calendar that changes from year to year), able-bodied Muslims are obligated to observe a…
As they usually are, the pediatrics are absolutely correct: A child is not just a little adult. The same can be said for the eldest among us: Senior citizens are more than just old adults; they have their own biopsychosocial considerations that we, as rheumatologists, must tend to. Among all the conditions that we find…
Editor’s note: Jan. 23, 2024. We have just learned that Dr. Paul Plotz passed away recently following a long illness. Come back soon for additional information. Here, we republish an interview with Dr. Plotz from 2019.
After three years on the Committee for Research, Linda Hiraki, MD, ScD, has stepped into the role of chair. During her term, she aims to foster global connections to advance and expand the positive impact of rheumatology research.