Deborah Dyett Desir, MD is the 87th ACR president and the first Black person elected to the position. In conversation with The Rheumatologist, this profile follows her career from academic research to private practice to Yale faculty & the ACR presidency.
We were sad to learn that Rodanthi C. Kitridou, MD, MACR, passed away July 6, 2023, after a long illness. Dr. Kitridou was the longtime director of clinical rheumatology at at LAC/USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Every year, the Ragan PR Daily Awards recognize the most outstanding public relations campaigns and initiatives. Due to the ACR’s work to elevate the voices of patients living with rheumatic diseases, its 2020 Rheumatic Diseases Awareness Month campaign has received three of these major awards.
The final rule, issued Nov. 2, finalizes many policies in the July proposed rule, including the decreased conversion factor, billing for shared visits and teaching services, the continuation of telehealth services and inclusion of an ACR-led Merit-Based Incentive Payment System Value Pathway.
Rheumatology leaders are encouraged by continued implementation of E/M coding changes, telehealth flexibilities and rheumatology-specific MIPS Value Pathway, but have concerns regarding conversion factor reductions and the CMS EHR interoperability and digital quality measures proposal.
ATLANTA—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to withdraw a proposed rule to implement the “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) payment model for Part B drugs. Leaders felt the policy would have dramatically disrupted patient access to critical therapies needed to manage rheumatic diseases and…
ATLANTA—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation (VF), released three new guidelines for the treatment and management of systemic vasculitis. Vasculitis is a group of about 20 rare diseases that have inflammation of blood vessels in common, which can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs. The three guidelines cover…
As we emerge from the grips of a global pandemic, we are taking this opportunity to pause and reflect on the ARP and what our division brings to the care of our patients. I found the words of Amanda Gordon’s inaugural reading of her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” inspirational and instructive for our past,…
ACR & EULAR recommendations for the treatment of patients with rheumatic illness during the COVID-19 pandemic are explored…
The year is drawing to a close, and I have not been forced to release a statement that I am leaving The Rheumatologist “to spend more time with my family.” Once again, improbably, I have made it to the finish line. Given that, now seems to be a good time to reflect, and to give…