Dr. Feely discusses his previous work with the College, his current work as a practicing rheumatologist and how he will lead continued advances on the insurance front.
The American Medical Association and ACR Insurance Subcommittee offer support and guidance to help practices recognize and push back against downcoded payments for evaluation and management services.
Improving reimbursement for underwater biosimilars is just one example of how the ACR’s practice advocates have achieved solutions to members’ insurance challenges. Here’s a look at current ACR efforts in insurance advocacy and how to get help with your own insurance challenges.
The Insurance Subcommittee is working to address coverage and reimbursement challenges facing rheumatology practices, including issues related to biosimilar use, in-office treatments and the new G2211 code.
Reimbursement has fallen below acquisition price for some biosimilar versions of infliximab, forcing practices and patients to make difficult decisions. The ACR is working to change this.
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.
On July 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina introduced a machine-learning technology platform to make decisions about patients’ care and treatment. The ACR opposes its use on grounds that it may harm patients’ access to treatment and undermine the doctor-patient relationship.
During a busy start to 2023, the ISC has been advocating with payers to address multiple coverage and reimbursement challenges facing rheumatology practices, including Cigna’s modifier 25 requirements, hydroxychloroquine access and coverage for apremilast combination therapy.
In recent months, the ISC has engaged with payers to reduce administrative burden on practices and continues to advocate to the CMS for the use of complex administration codes for biologics.
At my first Advocacy Leadership Conference as a member of the ACR’s Insurance Subcommittee, I discovered the power of stories from the clinic and how lawmakers value clinicians’ input on healthcare legislation.