Focus Rheums| ACR Convergence 2024 Previews

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

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Arkansas PBM Bill: A Step in the Right Direction

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During a three-day special legislative session in March, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law the first bill in the U.S. intended to address a lack of transparency among pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their role in the high cost of prescription drugs.1 The bill, H.B. 1010: Arkansas Pharmacy Benefits Manager Licensure Act, will…

Supply & Demand: Where Will the Rheumatology Workforce Be in 2030?

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

According to the “2015 American College of Rheumatology Workforce Study: Supply and Demand Projections of Adult Rheumatology Workforce, 2015–2030,” the demand for rheumatologic care is projected to exceed supply of clinical adult rheumatology providers by 4,133 clinical FTEs by 2030. The research now being published estimates the baseline adult rheumatology workforce, as well as determined demographic and geographic factors relevant to the workforce. The research also highlights the need for innovative regional strategies to manage future access to and reduce barriers to care for rheumatology patients in underserved regions…

5 Steps to Help You Manage Prior Authorizations

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Despite continuous movement to streamline the prior authorization process, physician practices are still struggling with jumping through hoops to have procedures and medications covered. A prior authorization (PA) is the process insurance carriers have in place to approve or reject prescriptions based on plan formulary. The PA process is important in ensuring appropriate and cost-effective…

DMARDs & Biologics Info for Rheumatology Nurses

Larry Beresford  |  

SAN DIEGO—In a presentation on what rheumatology nurses should know in their daily practice about disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting Nov. 3–8, Jessica Farrell, PharmD, highlighted the importance of educating and counseling patients about the range of treatments and applications for rheumatologic conditions. Dr. Farrell, a clinical pharmacist at the…

ARHP Launches Updated Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course

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The ARHP is pleased to announce the relaunch of its highly successful online Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course (FRC). This updated version is earning high marks from users and reviewers for ease of navigation, choice of presentation formats, depth of research and separate learning activities (i.e., modules) for the care of adult and pediatric patients. According…

Younger Patients Getting Knees & Hips Replaced

Megan Brooks  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients undergoing total joint replacement are younger now than they were in 2000, new research indicates. The average patient undergoing a total hip replacement (THR) in 2014 was 64.9 years, while the average patient in 2000 was 66.3 years. Similarly, the average patient undergoing a total knee replacement (TKR) was 65.9 in…

Anthem Cancels Planned Modifier 25 Cuts

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Anthem, a Blue Cross Blue Shield company that operates in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, has decided not to move forward with a policy that would have resulted in decreased reimbursement for evaluation and management (E/M) services when billed with modifier 25. As reported…

The Science Behind Biosimilars

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Although six biosimilar agents have now been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for use in rheumatology, scientific, clinical, economic and prescribing questions about the use of biosimilars abound. In fact, at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego, Joseph Huffstutter, MD, a rheumatologist in private practice in Chattanooga, Tenn., said that…

Tools & Training from the ACR Practice Management Team

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The ACR Practice Management Department actively works to provide valuable, accessible resources addressing practice issues on a local and national level to rheumatologists and their staff. Our trained professionals are devoted to providing the most up-to-date tools and resources to help improve practice efficiency while meeting the myriad compliance obligations of the ever-changing healthcare landscape….