It’s time we changed our thinking on osteoarthritis
Drug Updates
Information on New Approvals and Medication Safety
Arthritis Foundation Honors Two Rheumatology Professionals
Honorees’ accomplishments include discovering new RA drugs and exceptional volunteer leadership
Technology and Pay-for-Performance
Medicare and private payers are increasingly developing programs to reward physicians based on clinical benchmarks. As more payers embrace this approach, practices are looking to technology to help them manage complex reporting requirements.
Update on Meaningful Use
On December 30, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the long-awaited proposed rule establishing the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, which lays out a set of standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology. This program has been developed in response to the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ARRA), which authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide a reimbursement incentive for physician and hospital providers who become “meaningful users” of an EHR.
Coding and Billing for Facet Joint Injections
Billing and coding is not as easy as one might think. The rules are constantly changing—and the codes for facet joint injections, which have changed frequently over the years, are a prime example. To make sure your practice is in compliance, billers, coders, and physicians should remain informed of the correct coding guidelines for facet joint injections. No one in a physician’s practice should ever assume that, because they coded a procedure a certain way in years past, it is still the status quo. Every rheumatologist and his or her staff should understand the what, why, and where of facet joint injections.
Rheumatology Fellowship Training in the U.S.: The REF Stimulus
This year is the 25th anniversary of the ACR Research and Education Foundation (REF), and the REF has evolved considerably since its founding in 1985.
Mary K. Crow, MD, Appointed to New Position
Starting on April 1, Mary K. Crow, MD, will step into the dual roles of physician-in-chief and chair of the division of rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York.
ARHP Member Serves as an Olympic Torch Bearer
The 2010 Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver last month, and ARHP member Lori Cyr, BSc, OT, was chosen as a torchbearer for the Olympic Torch Relay.
ACR Seeks Awards and Masters Nominations
Each year, the ACR recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of rheumatology through an awards program, and is currently seeking nominations.
The ACR Supports the Rheumatology Workforce
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.
Call Your Lawmakers the Week of March 15
The elimination of consultation code services, the repeated battle to avert Medicare cuts, the need for increased research funding, the creation of a loan repayment program for pediatric rheumatologists, and fair costs for drug therapies are all issues that members of Congress have influence over. All of these issues affect the rheumatology profession, whether you are a clinical practitioner, researcher, academic, or health professional.
Coding Corner Answer
March’s Coding Answer
Coding Corner Question
March’s Coding Challenge
Navigate Maintenance of Certification with the ACR
All rheumatologists certified in 1990 or later are expected to recertify every 10 years and, to do so, are required to enroll in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. Requirements for successful completion of the MOC program include a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine, 100 points of self-evaluation in medical knowledge, and practice performance, as well as a passing the secure exam in your discipline.
Enhance Your Education with the State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium
The 2010 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium offers attendees a chance to review the latest clinical and scientific information on topics such as the treatment and research of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, pediatrics, ultrasound, and cardiovascular comorbidities. The symposium—which provides a platform for attendees to have personal interactions with key opinion leaders in the field of rheumatology—will be held April 24–25 in Chicago, and will cover a range of diverse topics.
Letters to the Editor: Feedback from the Readers
No Such Thing as Fibromyalgia
Thinkers Wanted: Join the Grassroots Rheumatology Think Tank
We need you to join the grassroots rheumatology think tank
Our Multidisciplinary Approach: Diversity of Opinion Makes ACR Stronger
Diversity of opinion makes our organization stronger
California Budget Cuts Affect Rheumatology
From furloughs to tuition increases, responses have far-reaching consequences for training and the workforce
A Sobering Reality in Sierra Leone
Trip to focus on lupus takes on another purpose
Progress Continues in Systemic Sclerosis
Advances in genetics and potential therapies shed new light on the disease