We know a large percentage of the U.S. population falls into a vaccine-hesitant group. In fact, only 60% of Americans plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to an article in The Atlantic.1 Given that rheumatology patients are among the vulnerable, we asked a handful of ACR/ARP members whether they have been vaccinated themselves and…
FDA News Release—On April 16, saying that alternative monoclonal antibody therapies authorized to treat patients with COVID-19 remain available, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) that allowed for the investigational monoclonal antibody therapy bamlanivimab, when administered alone, to be used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and…
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,…
I’m a believer in blue light. I’ve spent years lecturing my insomniac patients, buzzed on prednisone, on the importance of good sleep hygiene. In my own home, I try to practice what I preach. When I’m ready for bed, I leave my laptop and phone on my nightstand, and concentrate on relaxing. If I can’t…
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has been extended, effective April 21. The Biden administration has indicated it will likely extend the PHE through the end of the year.
As more people get vaccinated for COVID-19, there’s hope that the long days of a pandemic, which has claimed more than 2.5 million lives globally and 500,000 in the U.S., will soon draw to a close and allow daily life to return to normal. However, for some people, this recovery may take longer, because the…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—U.K. experts propose evidence-based management strategies for rheumatology patients on immunosuppressive therapy, including delaying/postponing rituximab, as appropriate. “The aim of this viewpoint article is to outline the existing data on the effect of anti-rheumatic therapy on vaccine responses in patients with inflammatory arthritis and to formulate a possible pragmatic strategy for the…
State-level wins that ensure immunosuppressed patients can access COVID-19 vaccination show the power of coordinated efforts by volunteer leaders, staff and members to translate the ACR’s work into actionable public policy recommendations, then amplify those messages through member engagement.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reopened the Extreme & Uncontrollable Circumstances application and indicated they will automatically apply the policy to individuals who do not submit data for 2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System.
Each state has different requirements for residents to obtain a coronavirus vaccination, with some allowing preregistration and others coordinating vaccinations via employers or the local health department. Below, we list some online resources created to help people determine whether they qualify for coronavirus vaccination and where they should go to schedule an appointment, broken down…