A common case scenario in our practice in North Dakota is a woman with rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate monotherapy. She is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate people and lives 90 miles from our rheumatology clinic. She currently has moderate disease activity, indicating the need for additional treatment. She does not have her own…
Forging one’s own path after completing medical training can be daunting. As I entered the final six months of my rheumatology fellowship, I was also pregnant with my first child. Having grown comfortable within academic settings, I felt the nerves of trying to find my place outside medical education. Search for Home For the best…
The upcoming 2023 Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 12–18, was good reason for Debbie Durkee, RN, MSN, FNP-C, to reflect on the profession and its growth, her years in practice, and the importance of active participation in the ARP. Unlike many who go into the field, Ms. Durkee never felt drawn to nursing as a child,…
When Taylor Warmoth, MD, a rheumatologist with Arthritis and Osteoporosis Associates (AOA), Lubbock, Texas, posted her first educational video on TikTok in 2022, she anticipated a moderate response. She was surprised when her medical assistant informed her the next day that her video had received over 5,000 views, 800 comments, and her account had gained…
The long-awaited list of the first 10 Part D drugs to be included in the new Medicare Price Negotiation process includes the commonly prescribed rheumatology drugs Enbrel and Stelara. Initial negotiations with the drug manufacturers will begin this fall.
The new resource offers standardized outcome measures for providers who treat patients with RA, as well as training materials for medical staff to guide accurate and efficient data collection. It also includes video tutorials and sample workflows for different EHR systems.
The Insurance Subcommittee is working to address coverage and reimbursement challenges facing rheumatology practices. Recent activities include efforts to avoid increased administrative burden associated with specialty medications, support payer coverage of musculoskeletal ultrasounds and protect patient access to biologics.
A team approach is necessary to provide comprehensive care in today’s complex healthcare settings. And nowhere is the need for a cadre of medical professionals more evident than within the practice of rheumatology, where complicated diagnoses and tailored treatments are the rule rather than the exception. Among the highly trained members of these healthcare teams…
See key changes for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System for the 2024 performance year as outlined in the proposed rule.
Recent proposals in the U.S. to bill for electronic communication with our patients could be seen as a refreshing but contested attempt to battle burnout rates in the present era. A fee for electronic communications between patients and clinicians also acknowledges the value of the clinician’s time and expertise. But is this ethical? Discussion Burnout…