Information on New Approvals and Medication Safety
He Taught Us to Always Go Deeper
Eng Tan, MD, promotes translation from bench to bedside
Patient-Driven Care
Lupus patient becomes international advocate for better education and care in her home country
Rheum with a View
Panush’s perspectives on selections from the literature
Could Lipids Be a Key to Control Inflammation?
Presenters spotlight complex relationship between lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and autoimmune disorders
Glucocorticoids a Fracture Risk at Any Dose
Updated recommendations advocate doing more to determine fracture risk and the need for preventive therapy
A Catalyst for Antiphospholipid Syndrome Research
APS ACTION is coordinating international efforts to study this rare and potentially fatal autoimmune disorder
Similarities to Fibromyalgia Found in Post-War Illness
Many questions remain about these chronic multisymptom illnesses
Are NSAIDS Even Less Safe Than We Thought?
Recent meta-analysis points to MI risks, but many questions remain
ICD-9 Freeze and ICD-10 Code Update
Each year as a part of normal coding process, diagnostic codes are updated to reflect revised, new, and deleted codes through the CMS ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee. Diagnostic code changes and updates are based on information from vendors, physicians, or other health professionals that demonstrate a current code does not adequately describe a disease, sign, or symptom—or simply that the code is no longer appropriate for use.
Rheumatology Practice Pearls: Defusing the Angry Patient
Providing the best medical care is at the forefront of every physician’s mind. Regardless of this, your patient may still get very upset or angry.
Supporting the Rheumatology Workforce
This month, the ACR will host the 13th Annual Rheumatology Training Directors’ Conference in Chicago. The conference is designed to provide training directors access to valuable resources and expose them to innovative teaching methods that will enable them to improve and strengthen their curriculum.
The Dos and Don’ts of E/M Coding
Coding medical procedures and diagnoses can be a daunting task if you are not educated in this field. I am going to break down the rules for evaluation and management (E/M) coding, so take a deep breath and let’s jump in!
Make Discoveries at State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium
Clinical excellence is the foundation of a successful practice. Advancing the integration of evidence-based science and clinical expertise, the State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium leads the way for rheumatologists to enhance their professional effectiveness and improve their patients’ outcomes.
Advocate from Your Office the Week of March 14
The ACR is urging the 112th Congress to address many issues important to rheumatology including appropriate reimbursement for specialty care, the repeated battle to avert Medicare payment cuts, funding for the pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program, continued fair reimbursement for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, and the need for increased research funding.
The REF: A Facilitator of Mentoring
The ACR Research and Education Foundation (REF) has made a substantial commitment to supporting career development through its many grant programs, such as the preceptorships for medical and graduate students and residents, the Rheumatology Scientist Development Award, the Rheumatology Investigator Award, and the Career Development Bridge Funding Award, provided in collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation.
Coding Corner Answer
March’s Coding Answer
Coding Corner Question
March’s Coding Challenge
2011 CMS e-Prescribing Program: Will You Get Hit with Penalties?
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 provides for e-prescribing financial incentives in 2011 and financial penalties in 2012 and 2013. When you successfully e-prescribe and report on 25 patient encounters, you will be eligible to receive a 1% incentive of the total estimated allowed charges for professional services covered by Medicare Part B rendered in 2011. The big news, however, is the payment reductions for those who do not successfully meet e-prescribing reporting requirements that will be applied—1% in 2012 and 1.5% in 2013.
Letters to the Editor
Praise for a Different Perspective on Foreign Medical Graduates
Advertise This
Medical marketing is an interesting place; beware inaccurate claims
A Huge Thank You to 251 People
RheumPAC supporters are helping to advance rheumatology
Arthritis Foundation Honors Excellence in Rheumatology
AF award recipients include renowned investigator and professor emeritus
Experts Tackle Tough Pain Challenges
NIH conference brings together experts to discuss pain treatment
The DMOAD Dream a Generation Later
Few effective treatments for OA have been developed, and the approach to clinical trials might need modifications
Making of the Guidelines
Panel considered new drugs and tools in the 2010 update